If Israel Wants to Take American Money, It Should Remember It’s Accountable to the American People Dear Email, After admitting to the murder of Palestinian-American Shireen Abu Akleh earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid rejected the suggestion by U.S. government officials for Israel to reevaluate the Israeli military’s “rules of engagement”. Lapid’s response came after State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel commented the U.S. is “going to continue to press our Israeli partners to closely review its policies and practices on rules of engagement.” These policies, according to leading Israeli human rights group B’TSelem, have allowed Israelis to kill “thousands of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories over the years.” Lapid’s response brushed aside the notion that the United States—a country that provides Israel with $3.8 billion a year in funding and is Israel’s singular largest supporter, could suggest to Israel that they should review their draconian open-fire policy. On Wednesday, Lapid boastfully responded, “No one will dictate our open-fire policies to us…our soldiers have the full backing of the government of Israel and the people of Israel.”  Since Israel objects to the U.S. suggesting they live up to minimal legal and moral obligations, perhaps it’s time for U.S. officials to stop providing Israel with the massive military funding that makes Israel’s atrocities, including the killing of American citizens, possible. It may also be time for U.S. officials can learn a thing or two from this situation and move on from trying to preach morality to an apartheid government that’s proven, time and time again, that it has none.  Outrageous statements like these from the Israeli government should remind us why we must remain committed to organizing, relentlessly advocating, building alliances, and forging a movement that can force the U.S. government to hold Israel accountable for Abu Akleh’s murder. You can have that chance during our 2022 virtual Palestine Advocacy Days on September 19-23. It’s free to participate and we'll be joined by hundreds of activists from around the country to meet with Congress and deliver our demands. We will provide: - free advocacy training on Monday, September 19,
- an inspiring public plenary session with Members of Congress on Tuesday, September 20,
- then we will guide you through meetings with your Senators and Representative on September 21 through September 23.
If you’re short on time and want to get a sense of VPAD in a nutshell, we’ve got you covered! Earlier this week we released this 90-second video on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook breaking down how our Palestine Advocacy Days will unfold to get you ready to fight for Palestine on Capitol Hill as effectively as you possibly can. Check it out and please share it with your family and friends.  |
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