Interview with US Campaign to End Anti-Semitism

[mick silver]

Interview with US Campaign to End Anti-SemitismBy VNN (http://www.veteransnewsnow.com/author/admin/) on July 22, 2015
I thought you had a policy against racism. Isn’t a Jewish state a racist idea?
http://www.veteransnewsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Alison-Weir-If-Americans-Knew-1-640x378.jpgAlison Weir, If Americans Knew.org (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/us_ints/)
by Barb Weir[Barb Weir is the pseudonym of a satire writer and social justice advocate in the San Francisco Bay Area.]
As many of you already know, Alison Weir (no relation to me, and she pronounces her name WEER while mine is pronounced WAH-YER) and her organization, If Americans Knew (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/us_ints/)(IAK), have been expelled from the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation (USCEIO). I decided to get to the bottom of this important development, so I got in touch with Rube Joshner at the USCEIO, who agreed to be interviewed on condition of anonymity.
Barb Weir: For our readers who may not know, could you please explain why the USCEIO expelled IAK and Alison Weir from your organization?
Rube Joshner: Alison Weir violated our most sacred principle against racism, which is at the foundation of all our work.
BW: My goodness! Is she a closet Zionist? Does she advocate an exclusivist Jewish state. Does she support the ethnic cleansing of non-Jews from Palestine or defend the theft of Arab land?
RJ: I’m not sure what you mean by Zionist. I’m not familiar with the term, but as for the rest, no, just the opposite. She violated our anti-Semitism clause.
BW: She’s an anti-Semite?
RJ: Not exactly, but she’s been seen with anti-Semites and she failed to denounce them to their face. We require all of our members to do everything possible to expose and denounce anti-Semites whenever possible, and especially to their face.
BW: I thought that was the job of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
RJ: The ADL is too busy defending Israel to fight anti-Semitism. Our organization criticizes Israel, which gives us a much better platform to fight anti-Semitism. In fact, we believe that the best way to defend Israel is to more-or-less liberate a significant part of 18% of Palestine and let Palestinians live there, as long as they are demilitarized and cannot defend themselves.
BW: I thought you were concerned with defending Palestinians.
RJ: We think that the best way to defend Palestinians is to fight anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is the cause of all the Palestinians’ problems.
BW: So you’re not opposed to Zionism?
RJ: There you go with that word again. What do you mean?
BW: I’m talking about the project to create a Jewish state where none previously existed. You’re not opposed to a state that prefers Jews?
RJ: Where did you get that idea?
BW: I thought you had a policy against racism. Isn’t a Jewish state a racist idea?
RJ: We support the principle of separate but equal, and you won’t find anything against a Jewish state in our policy on racism. That would be anti-Semitic.
BW: Are you planning to expel all the groups that oppose a Jewish state?
RJ: As I said, our first duty is to fight anti-Semitism. Sometimes a group that opposes a Jewish state will get expelled.
BW: Do you have a plan for accomplishing this?
RJ: I’m glad you asked. We’re just now drafting a new application form with a list of questions that is not in the old form. We may even apply it retroactively. Would you like to see it?
BW: Sure.
1. Are you now or have you ever been an anti-Semite?
2. Have you ever attended a meeting of anti-Semites?
3. Have you ever associated with anyone that was or is an anti-Semite?
4. Are you willing to provide the U.S. Campaign with a list of all anti-Semites that you have known?
5. Have you ever tolerated the presence of anti-Semites without denouncing or challenging them?
RJ: I hope that shows we’re serious about fighting racism and defending Palestinians.
Ed. Note: Those of you who aren’t familiar with Alison’s work, please visit:
If Americans Knew
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/
and Council for the National Interest (CNI).
http://www.councilforthenationalinterest.org/component/k2/item/2436-billions-in-aid
Also see:

[Ponce]

It is not a matter of getting rid of Semites but of Zionist.....but........they will always be around.

V

[mick silver]

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the world's major sources of instability. Americans are directly connected to this conflict, and increasingly imperiled by its devastation.
It is the goal of If Americans Knew to provide full and accurate information on this critical issue, and on our power – and duty – to bring a resolution.
Please click on any statistic for the source and more information.
Statistics last updated December 15, 2015
[TABLE="class: stats"]

Israeli and Palestinian Children Killed
September 29, 2000 - Present (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/children.html)



133 Israeli children (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/children.html) have been killed by Palestinians and 2,089 Palestinian children (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/children.html) have been killed by Israelis since September 29, 2000. (View Sources & More Information (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/children.html#source))

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/images/childrenkilledindex.png (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/children.html)




Israelis and Palestinians Killed
September 29, 2000 - Present (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/deaths.html)



http://www.ifamericansknew.org/images/totalkilledindex.png (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/deaths.html)
1,217 Israelis (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/deaths.html) and at least 9,271 Palestinians (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/deaths.html) have been killed since September 29, 2000. (View Sources & More Information (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/deaths.html#source))





Israelis and Palestinians Injured
September 29, 2000 - Present (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/injuries.html)



11,671 Israelis (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/injuries.html) and 84,820 Palestinians (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/injuries.html) have been injured since September 29, 2000. (View Sources & More Information (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/injuries.html#source).)

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/images/totalinjuredindex.png (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/injuries.html)




Daily U.S. Military Aid to Israel and the Palestinians
Fiscal Year 2013 (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/usaid.html)



http://www.ifamericansknew.org/images/aidindex.png (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/usaid.html)
During Fiscal Year 2014, the U.S. is providing Israel with at least $10.2 million per day (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/usaid.html#source) in military aid and $0 (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/usaid.html#pal) in military aid to the Palestinians. (View Sources & More Information (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/usaid.html#source))





UN Resolutions Targeting Israel and the Palestinians
1955 - 1992 (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/un.html)



Israel has been targeted by at least 77 UN resolutions (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/un.html) and the Palestinians have been targeted by 1 (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/un.html). (View Sources & More Information (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/un.html#source))

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/images/unindex.png (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/un.html)




Current Number of Political Prisoners and Detainees (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/prisoners.html)



http://www.ifamericansknew.org/images/prisonersindex.png (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/prisoners.html)
0 Israelis (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/prisoners.html) are being held prisoner by Palestinians, while 6,700 Palestinians (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/prisoners.html) are currently imprisoned by Israel. (View Sources & More Information (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/prisoners.html#source))





Demolitions of Israeli and Palestinian Homes
1967 - Present (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/homes.html)



0 Israeli homes (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/homes.html) have been demolished by Palestinians and at least 28,000 Palestinian homes (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/homes.html) have been demolished by Israel since 1967. (View Sources & More Information (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/homes.html#source))

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/images/homesindex.png (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/homes.html)




Israeli and Palestinian Unemployment Rates (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/econ.html)



http://www.ifamericansknew.org/images/econindex.png (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/econ.html)
The Israeli unemployment rate is 6% (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/econ.html), while the Palestinian unemployment in the West Bank is 16% (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/#source) and 45% (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/#source) in Gaza. (View Sources & More Information (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/econ.html#source))





Current Illegal Settlements on the Other’s Land (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/settlements.html)



Israel currently has 261 Jewish-only settlements and ‘outposts’ (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/settlements.html) built on confiscated Palestinian land. Palestinians do not have any settlements (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/settlements.html) on Israeli land. (View Sources & More Information (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/settlements.html#source))

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/images/settlementsindex.png (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/settlements.html)




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http://www.ifamericansknew.org/images/oct2015.png (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/media/apcov.html) Once again, the Associated Press provides a blatantly slanted news report on Israel-Palestine. The problem is, AP’s slant is only blatant to those who know the full facts. This is the article that hundreds of newspaper wire editors around the US, most of whom have never visited the region and whose information comes largely from AP, are seeing. Read more (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/media/apcov.html)





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[mick silver]

U.S. Military Aid and the Israel/Palestine ConflictThe U.S. provides Israel $10.2 million* (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/usaid.html#source) in military aid each day,
while it gives the Palestinians $0** (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/usaid.html#pal) in military aid. Amount of Military Aid Per Day in DollarsIsraelPalestinians03,000,0006,000,0009,000, 00012,000,000

Category
Israel
Palestinians


Israel
10218668



Palestinians

0





10218668



​ “Since the October War in 1973, Washington has provided Israel with a level of support dwarfing the amounts provided to any other state. It has been the largest annual recipient of direct U.S. economic and military assistance since 1976 and the largest total recipient since World War ll. Total direct U.S. aid to Israel amounts to well over $140 billion in 2003 dollars. Israel receives about $3 billion in direct foreign assistance each year, which is roughly one-fifth of America's entire foreign aid budget. In per capita terms, the United States gives each Israeli a direct subsidy worth about $500 per year. This largesse is especially striking when one realizes that Israel is now a wealthy industrial state with a per capita income roughly equal to South Korea or Spain.”
- John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt
"The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy" (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374177724?ie=UTF8&tag=ifamericankne-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0374177724)
*Source: The Congressional Research Service's report "U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel," (http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf) written by Jeremy M. Sharp, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs, dated June 10, 2015.
According to the report, the Obama Administration gave Israel $3.1 billion for Fiscal Year 2015 in direct bilateral military aid (also referred to as Foreign Military Financing or FMF). The U.S. government also gave $619.8 million for "joint" U.S.-Israel missile defense programs (designed to protect Israeli territory from potential outside threats), bringing total military aid to Israel to $3.7 billion per year.
Put another way, American taxpayers give Israel $10.2 million per day (in 2015).



'The Staggering Cost of Israel to Americans' Booklet (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/download/StaggeringCost.pdf)
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Over the last 20 years, the U.S. has been slowly phasing out economic aid to Israel and gradually replacing it with increased military aid. In 2007, the Bush Administration and the Israeli government agreed to a 10-year, $30 billion military aid package FY 2009 to FY 2018. In 2012, the U.S. began giving Israel $3.1 billion a year (or an average of $8.5 million a day) and promised to provide that amount every year through FY 2018. During a March 2013 visit to Israel, President Obama promised to continue to provide multi-year commitments of military aid to the Israeli government (subject to the approval of Congress).

There is also the strong possibility that annual aid to Israel will increase in the future (http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf): "At times, there have been reports indicating U.S.-Israeli discussions over a possible future ten year aid deal beyond FY2018. Israeli media sources have said that the United States and Israel have held 'preliminary' discussions over future military assistance with Israel seeking between $4.2 billion and $4.5 billion in annual FMF." Israel is by far the largest recipient of U.S. foreign military aid (see how other nations compare (http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/208292.pdf)). According to the CRS report (http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf), the President’s request for Israel for FY 2015 will encompass approximately 53% of total U.S. foreign military financing worldwide. The report continues, "[a]nnual FMF grants to Israel represent 20% of the overall Israeli defense budget. Israel has the highest percentage in the world of defense expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (5.6%)."
Contrary to ordinary U.S. policy, Israel has been and continues to be allowed to use approximately 26% of this military aid to purchase equipment from Israeli manufacturers. According to CRS (http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf), “no other recipient of U.S. military assistance has been granted this benefit.” Thanks in part to this indirect U.S. subsidy, Israel’s arms industry has become one of the strongest in the world. “Between 2001 and 2008, it was the 7th largest arms supplier to the world with sales worth a total of 9.9 billion.”
The United States also contributes funds for a joint U.S.-Israeli Missile Defense Program designed to thwart short-range missiles and rockets fired by non-state actors (such as Hamas and Hezbollah) as well as mid- and longer-range ballistic missiles (this refers to Iran and/or Syria's arsenals). Arrow II, Arrow III, David's Sling, and Iron Dome refer to different projects under the umbrella of this Missile Defense program. In 2015, the U.S. spent $619.8 million on these programs and plans to spend between $371 and $487 million in 2016 (depending on Congressional approval).
By all accounts the United States has given more money to Israel than to any other country. The Congressional Research Service (http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf)’s conservative estimate of total cumulative US aid to Israel (not adjusted for inflation) from 1949 through 2015 is $124.3 billion.
An October 2013 Washington Report (http://wrmea.com/archives/November_2008/0811010.html) article “A Conservative Estimate of Total Direct U.S. Aid to Israel: $130 Billion,” (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/130bill.html) by Shirl McArthur, puts the cumulative total even higher.
According to McArthur, “[T]he indirect or consequential costs to the American taxpayer as a result of Washington’s blind support for Israel exceed by many times the amount of direct U.S. aid to Israel. Some of these ‘indirect or consequential’ costs would include the costs to U.S. manufacturers of the Arab boycott, the costs to U.S. companies and consumers of the Arab oil embargo and consequent soaring oil prices as a result of U.S. support for Israel in the 1973 war, and the costs of U.S. unilateral economic sanctions on Iran, Iraq, Libya and Syria. (For a discussion of these larger costs, see ‘The Costs to American Taxpayers of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: $3 Trillion,’ (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stat/stauffer.html) by the late Thomas R. Stauffer, June 2003 Washington Report, p. 20.)”

**Source: The Congressional Research Service's Report “U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians” (http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS22967.pdf), written by Jim Zanotti, Analyst in Middle Eastern Affairs, dated July 3, 2014.
According to the report, the U.S. government has never provided Palestinians with military aid. "The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 4870), which passed the House in June 2014, contained provisions that would prohibit funds made available by the act from being obligated to the PA (§10033) or from being used to transfer weapons to the PA (§10024)." Aid to Palestinians is largely designated for the policing of their own people as well as for humanitarian and development needs. Such funds are only authorized once Congress has received proof that they will be used for "non-lethal assistance." Congress requested $441 million in aid for FY 2015.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided the Palestinian people with some indirect economic assistance through funds distributed to U.S.-based NGOs operating in the West Bank and Gaza. According to the CRS report, "Funds are allocated in this program for projects in sectors such as humanitarian assistance, economic development, democratic reform, improving water access and other infrastructure, health care, education, and vocational training." The program is subject to a vetting process and to yearly audits...
The United States also provides funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), "which provides food, shelter, medical care, and education for many of the original refugees from the 1947-1949 Arab-Israeli war and their families—now comprising approximately 4.8 million Palestinians in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza." The amount allocated by the U.S. government for FY 2014 was $250.9 million. (Learn more about Palestinian refugees. (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/history/refugees.html))