U.S. to hold back some funds from Israel

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N15166531.htm

WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Bush administration said on Monday it would withhold some funds from Israel because of its settlement activities in Palestinian areas.

But the administration said it has yet to decide whether to penalize Israel over construction of a security fence, which President George W. Bush called "a problem" for U.S. efforts to build trust between Israelis and Palestinians.

The deductions would come from a $9 billion package of U.S. loan guarantees to help Israel weather a deep recession and fiscal crisis stemming in large part from the three-year-old Palestinian militant revolt against Israel for independence.

An administration official said the dollar-amounts for any deductions have yet to be determined.

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[joeybee12]

1. It will only be a token gesture...

...Israel has us by the balls, and they know it.

[loudnclear]

2. How about SANCTIONS??

Don't we do this to every nation that refuses to go along with what we want? Israel is acting against US national security when it behaves in such a way as to draw us into protracted wars with other nations that really pose not threat to us. For example, how dangerous is Cuba to us? Yet we still have embargo (sanctions) on them. How dangerous are the Palestinians to us? Think about it! Yet, because of Israeli occupation and US support of them in this brutal oppression, we have become hated and despised...not because of our "way of life" but because of what we do. Because what we do (arming Israel, aiding Israel, supporting Israel, and failing to influence Israel in any positive way). We have become a threat to the national security of many Arab nations, making us a target, thereby negatively affecting our own national security. Think about it!

[liberalhistorian]

3. Finally!

Some higher-ups in the government are FINALLY getting a backbone when it comes to Israel, which for too long has gotten away with doing whatever it wants whenever it wants, including targeting and persecuting an entire race of people due to the actions of a few among them, without our government so much as blinking an eye. It takes billions of our tax dollars every year, then uses them to deliberately murder American citizens like Rachel Corrie. It says we have no right at all to tell them what to do, but has no trouble at all taking gazillions of our money each year.

[karlschneider]

4. How's about withholding ALL funds until they come up with some plan to

give the Palestinians SOMETHING. Like a bit of homeland (that's a word I've been hearing from the goddamned idiots in the White House recently.)

And before somebody starts flaming me, I have Jewish ancestors and (yes, I will say it - many of my very dearest friends are Jews. Do NOT accuse me of anti-Semiticism.)

There is no way to fix that problem without fixing that problem. It isn't rocket science. If the USA wants to give it a shot, take the $87B that Bunnypants wants for Iraq or even ANOTHER $87B or more and just fucking outright BUY some land ...a little piece of...whereever, Jordan, Syria, even Egypt for chrissakes. Maybe even a small chunk of Israel (which of course is as much a political invention as Iraq is) and let 'em go for whatever the hell kind of government they want. (Same scenario on that point should apply to Iraq too, for that matter.)

Talk about the inmates running the asylum........:eyes:

[Jacobin]

5. What, five dollars?

[IndianaGreen]

6. Oh, the horrors!!!

Pure tokenism on the part of the Bush regime, a largely symbolic gesture considering the amount of money Israel syphons each year from the taxes working class Americans pay.

I wonder how long before we hear the howls of protest from politicians seeking campaign contributions from AIPAC, Democrats and Republicans alike.

I am sure Denise Majette will be one of them... She owes them big time!

[cthrumatrix]

7. Our tax dollars have worked soo effectively in this region....I can

only hope that leverage can be applied for "peace" for all concerned.

But it sure does seem Israel call's the shot's....

[leesa]

8. Ohh. Slap. Slap.

[jiacinto]

9. Shame on Bush for not supporting Israel

Shame on him indeed.

[SOS]

11. Bush does not support Israel?

You are joking, right?

[smallprint]

10. I think this token gesture is important

because it opens the door to possibilities...

and even if the dollar amount is negligible, it shows who has the power in the relationship, which is crucial