A paradox that one must pause to consider: The United States is studying, through Congress, the allotment of $680 million to support the Israeli “Iron Dome.”* This amount is in addition to the other sums the United States paid as a contribution to set up this military project that protects Israel from the resistance’s rockets, at present and in the future, if the resistance thought about returning to the military option.
This sum is also in addition to U.S. yearly military aid to Israel that amounts to $3.1 billion.
The paradox is not here, but rather in USAID’s offering a new $22.6 million contribution with the goal of providing food for Palestinian families. Here is the paradox: Billions of dollars for Israel to continue killing Palestinians, and a handful of dollars for the Palestinians to stay alive so Israel can kill them. The United States has paid trillions of dollars to Israel since it usurped Palestine so Israel can remain the stronger, greater, and superior power in the region and the protector of U.S. interests. It engages in hostile action and launches its wars, occupies lands and drives people from their homes, under the military protection of Washington and the policy on the ground and in the Security Council.
These crumbs that the United States offers to the Palestinians can keep some of them barely alive for days, but it will not teach them to eke out an existence every day. The Palestinian people are not in need of this aid. They are in need of what is rightfully due to them and are holding fast to it.
*Editor’s note: for further reading on the “Iron Dome,” please see www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/20/us-israel-usa-irondome-idUSBRE83J1LU20120420.
Too true. Too bad this truth won’t ever appear on the front page of the NYT, where it belongs.
The Saudis could use their clout to curtail bad behavior on the part of Israel in a heartbeat if they really wanted to.
Too bad they don’t.