*It is one of the clearest statements from an official tying US military aid to Israel’s genocide yet.* by Sharon Zhang, Truthout, July 25, 2024 https://truthout.org/articles/netanyahu-vows-to-finish-the-job-faster-in-gaza-if-us-gives-him-more-weapons/
In his speech to Congress on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a direct appeal to U.S. lawmakers to send Israel more weapons, vowing, chillingly, that the weapons shipments would enable Israel to “finish the job faster” in Gaza. Netanyahu drew one of the clearest lines yet between the supply of U.S. weapons and Israel’s genocidal assault of Gaza, essentially straight out saying that the slaughter has been made possible by U.S. assistance — and that the speed of Israel’s genocide is scaled to how many U.S. weapons they receive. “Fast tracking U.S. military aid can dramatically expedite an end to the war in Gaza and help prevent a broader war in the Middle East,” said Netanyahu, who tried to stoke war with Iran later in the speech. . . . *Netanyahu Came to Congress to Plead for More Arms; Lawmakers Must Say No* An immediate end to all U.S. weapons transfers to Israel is long overdue, alongside a permanent cease-fire and larger pursuit of freedom and justice for the Palestinian people. by Farrah Hassen, Common Dreams, July 26 https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/congress-say-no-to-netanyahu . . . The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity. But instead of arresting him, Congress gave him multiple standing ovations. Beyond applause, the U.S. government is also Israel’s chief supplier of arms. ... . . . There is overwhelming evidence that Israeli forces under Netanyahu’s leadership have committed massive human rights atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza. And that’s against the backdrop of an illegal military occupation of Palestinian territory and apartheid, as another ICJ ruling confirmed recently. Nonetheless, Congress invited Netanyahu to speak. He used this platform to deny any responsibility for the slaughter, famine, and catastrophic destruction in Gaza—and to denigrate Americans who are rightly horrified by their government’s support for his genocidal campaign. As Netanyahu spoke, thousands of people took to the streets near the Capitol. Braving tear gas and arrest, they gave voice to the majority of Americans who demand an immediate, permanent cease-fire in Gaza and an embargo on arms to Israel. . . . These weapons shipments violate both international and U.S. law. The United States is legally obligated to withhold military assistance when U.S. weapons are used to violate human rights. The U.N. Human Rights Council and various experts have called on all countries to end the sale and transfer of military equipment to Israel—or else risk complicity in crimes, including genocide. They called on arms manufacturers supplying Israel to do the same, including Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. Polls show that a majority of Americans support closing the arms pipeline to Israel. In advance of Netanyahu’s speech, seven major labor unions representing nearly 6 million workers called on President Biden to “immediately halt all military aid to Israel.” The voices of the American people deserve more respect in Congress than Netanyahu’s lies and demands. An immediate end to all U.S. weapons transfers to Israel is long overdue, alongside a permanent cease-fire and larger pursuit of freedom and justice for the Palestinian people. . . . -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#31309): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/31309 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/107572053/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
