You might think the Goldstone report which found that Israel may have committed crimes against humanity in Gaza would be viewed as a setback by the Israel lobby. Think again. Check out this fundraising letter AIPAC sent out this afternoon to cash in on the damning report:
Dear,
It’s an abomination! After years of silence while Israeli towns were bombarded with more than 6,300 Hamas rockets and mortars, the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) this Tuesday issued a report accusing Israel of committing war crimes during its defensive operation against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip this winter.
Help Israel defend its right to self defense!
Renew your AIPAC commitment now before our fiscal year ends in 12 days.RENEW NOW
Israeli President Shimon Peres said the report “makes a mockery of history and fails to distinguish between aggressor and those acting in self-defense.”
This report is a sad reminder of the unbelievable delegitimization Israel continues to face around the globe as it takes action simply to defend the citizens on its own soil.
Fortunately, the U.S. continues to solidly stand by Israel’s side. Just hours after the report was issued, leaders in the House made numerous statements on behalf of Israel’s right to self defense. As statements continue to come in, I wanted to share just a couple below:
“But for the grave subject matter, the Goldstone report would be laughable. In the self-righteous fantasyland inhabited by the authors, there’s no such thing as terrorism, there’s no such thing as Hamas, there’s no such thing as legitimate self-defense, and war is like a sporting event or a debate…Certainly, the United States should do all that it can to ensure as little time as possible is wasted on this distraction from the real work of making peace.”
–Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia
“It would appear the UN is continuing its relentless anti-Israel bias, accusing the Jewish state of war crimes and crimes against humanity….Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly kicks off another year of anti-U.S., anti-Israel, and anti-freedom activism.”
–Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee
As you are well aware, this type of solid support for Israel does not happen by accident. It happens because your support allows AIPAC to work with Congressional leaders day in and day out to grow and build steadfast support for the Jewish state.
But for this vital support to continue, we need your immediate help.
AIPAC’s fiscal year closes in just 12 days and we need your continued support to ensure that in these uncertain times, the U.S.-Israel relationship remains at the top of our nation’s agenda.
Please take a moment to renew your support for AIPAC today with a gift of $50, $100, $150 or more .
Thank you again for your support of AIPAC at this critical hour. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year.
Sincerely,
Howard Kohr
AIPAC Executive DirectorP.S. The reason we need your pledge and payment today is because AIPAC is fiscally conservative. We only budget for the next year based on cash collected the previous year and our fiscal year ends in just 12 days.
Your pledge today will ensure we have the necessary resources to effectively help strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship in the coming year.
"This type of solid support for Israel does not happen by accident." No, clearly it’s the best support money can buy.
Today is the 3rd monthly “Fast for Gaza.”
I am fasting along with close to 700 Jewish, Christian and Muslim clergy and others.
The fast’s goals are:
1. To call for a lifting of the blockade that prevents the entry of civilian goods and services into Gaza;
2. To provide humanitarian and developmental aid to the people of Gaza;
3. To call upon Israel, the US, and the international community to engage in negotiations without pre-conditions with all relevant Palestinian parties – including Hamas – in order to end the blockade;
4. To encourage the American government to vigorously engage both Israelis and Palestinians toward a just and peaceful settlement of the conflict.
Information is at fastforgaza.net.
It is important for us to make a strong, public statement to counter the AIPAC machine.
Please spread the word.
Typical response. Every time someone points out a boycott or divestiture from some Zionist enterprise, the usual sort of suspects jump in to announce stoutly that they are rushing out to put their money behind Israel, and fuck justice and peace.
As Israel’s standing in the world declines we should expect to see even more vigorous fundraising among America Jews, especially those over 50. If things get too bad for Israel expect to see some real family diputes –’Hey, mom and dad, that is my inheritance you are giving away’.
I am reminded of the scene in Cabaret, the movie, where the key urban characters go out on a road trip to “fly over land” and encounter the rural Nazi youth who sings of tomorrow.
Nobody who frequents this blog is as young as that (reinacted) Hitler youth, but there a lesson here for both the USA and Israel. You can pull up the video clip, and without even considering how the diplommatic aftermath of WW1 energized WW2, gain a lot comcerning where we are headed. WW 3. Full stop.
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