Why should the Palestinian/Israeli conflict matter to us?

One time I was talking with my brother and he said to me: "Bethany, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is just so far away." Even when I was back in the US over Christmas break, I could feel just how far away this issue is from everyday life. I got used to the rythm of visiting friends, reading, cross-country skiing, with few reminders about the checkpoints, wall, and difficulties of living in Bethlehem.

With the Palestinian/Israeli conflict so far away, why should we in the US care? The US government gave $2.75 billion dollars in military aid to Israel for the year 2010. President Obama has just included a record amount of $3 billion dollars in military aid for Israel in is FY2011 budget. This is all a part of the $30 billion dollars that was promised to Israel last year for the next 10 years. The USA is already dealing with many issues that are straining us for money health care issues, education issues, and housing issues, which is all excentuated by the economic crisis. If only we could use some of the military aid we give to Israel, which often goes to human rights violations of the Israeli army and frees up money that Israel can spend on expanding illegal settlements in the West Bank and build the serperation wall through Palestinian land, we could fund many critical needs in the USA.

The US Campaign to End the Occupation is an organization in the States that deals with the issue of stopping military aid to Israel, or at least limiting it and making sure it goes to the appropriate places. They have come up with a new website that tells how much military aid will come from YOUR state and YOUR county and go to Israel between 2009 and 2018. They have also detailed what else could have been done with this money. The following information is for Minnesota and Martin County. To checkout other places in the USA, please click HERE. For more info from the US Campaign, click HERE.

Minnesota

Military Aid to Israel, Total FY2009-2018: $886,428,240.21
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This money could have been spent instead to:
Provide 10,763 households per year w/affordable housing grants OR

Provide 14,715 job seekers per year w/green jobs training OR

Provide 26,210 children per year w/ earlyreading education OR
Provide 717,872 people per year w/primary health care.


Martin County, Minnesota

Military Aid to Israel, Total FY2009-2018: $1,981,592.90
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This money could have been spent instead to:
Provide 24 households per year w/affordable housing grants OR

Provide 33 job seekers per year w/green jobs training OR

Provide 59 children per year w/ earlyreading education OR
Provide 1,605 people per year w/primary health care.

Tell your Members of Congress to spend your tax dollars wisely by clicking here.