14 dec 2013
It's been a great week for Israel in the US Congress, this week, but not for the American taxpayer...
Alison Weir
While many Americans are gearing up for the Christmas holidays and trying to earn the money to buy their children presents, and while the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits surged, Congress voted yet more money to Israel.
It also passed two other measures pushed by the Israel lobby. Almost none of this was reported by US mainstream media.
The budget committees of both the Senate and the House released a budget on December 10th included $284 million for U.S.–Israeli “joint defense"? – in fact, primarily for defense systems in Israel. These defense systems are aimed at shielding Israel from perceived threats in the region. For context, rockets from Gaza have killed some 29 Israelis in just over a decade, during which time Israeli forces killed approximately 4,000 Gazans. Congress is virtually assured to pass the budget.
This money is on top of the $3.1 billion in military aid the U.S. gives Israel every year. It is also triple the already-generous $96 million the Obama administration had requested for the programs.
The additional money is specifically to fund weapons systems that in many cases compete with American-made systems, likely costing thousands of American jobs.
Meanwhile, last week saw a surge in first-time applicants for unemployment. The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits rose 68,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 368,000, the largest increase in more than a year. But since some unemployment benefits are from a special program that is set to expire soon, as many as 2.1 million Americans will lose this assistance by March.
Also last week, and also under the media radar, the House passed a bill by a 399-0 vote that would increase the U.S. commitment to Israel's qualitative military edge over everyone else in the region. The bill requires that the president report every two years to Congress on how Israel's advantage is being maintained – up from the previous requirement that this be done every four years.
On top of that, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation that would create a strategic energy partnership between Israel and the United States. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is working to ensure that the legislation will be passed by the full House of Representatives.
AIPAC is generally considered one of the top two most powerful lobbying organizations in Washington.
A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate.
Sponsors of the bills come from both parties, as is typical with Israel-related legislation thanks to the power of the Israel lobby.
Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), introduced the bill to enhance Israel's qualitative edge, while Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) led the charge for the strategic energy partnership. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) introduced a parallel bill in the Senate.
While Israeli and U.S. Jewish media are reporting prominently on the additional funding to Israel, mainstream U.S. media have largely ignored it.
Alison Weir is the executive director of If Americans Knew and president of the Council for the National Interest.
Alison Weir
While many Americans are gearing up for the Christmas holidays and trying to earn the money to buy their children presents, and while the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits surged, Congress voted yet more money to Israel.
It also passed two other measures pushed by the Israel lobby. Almost none of this was reported by US mainstream media.
The budget committees of both the Senate and the House released a budget on December 10th included $284 million for U.S.–Israeli “joint defense"? – in fact, primarily for defense systems in Israel. These defense systems are aimed at shielding Israel from perceived threats in the region. For context, rockets from Gaza have killed some 29 Israelis in just over a decade, during which time Israeli forces killed approximately 4,000 Gazans. Congress is virtually assured to pass the budget.
This money is on top of the $3.1 billion in military aid the U.S. gives Israel every year. It is also triple the already-generous $96 million the Obama administration had requested for the programs.
The additional money is specifically to fund weapons systems that in many cases compete with American-made systems, likely costing thousands of American jobs.
Meanwhile, last week saw a surge in first-time applicants for unemployment. The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits rose 68,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 368,000, the largest increase in more than a year. But since some unemployment benefits are from a special program that is set to expire soon, as many as 2.1 million Americans will lose this assistance by March.
Also last week, and also under the media radar, the House passed a bill by a 399-0 vote that would increase the U.S. commitment to Israel's qualitative military edge over everyone else in the region. The bill requires that the president report every two years to Congress on how Israel's advantage is being maintained – up from the previous requirement that this be done every four years.
On top of that, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation that would create a strategic energy partnership between Israel and the United States. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is working to ensure that the legislation will be passed by the full House of Representatives.
AIPAC is generally considered one of the top two most powerful lobbying organizations in Washington.
A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate.
Sponsors of the bills come from both parties, as is typical with Israel-related legislation thanks to the power of the Israel lobby.
Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), introduced the bill to enhance Israel's qualitative edge, while Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) led the charge for the strategic energy partnership. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) introduced a parallel bill in the Senate.
While Israeli and U.S. Jewish media are reporting prominently on the additional funding to Israel, mainstream U.S. media have largely ignored it.
Alison Weir is the executive director of If Americans Knew and president of the Council for the National Interest.
13 dec 2014
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The US Congress has authorized $284 million to fund Israel’s missile systems program, triple the amount the Obama administration had requested.
The bill, introduced jointly by the House of Representatives and Senate budget committees, includes $33.7 million to improve the Arrow Weapon System, $117 million for the Short-Range Ballistic Missile Defense Program and $22 million for development of the Arrow-3 upper-tier interceptor, according to Business Week. The measure comes as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2014. Separately, the House on Wednesday passed 399-0 a bill that would |
enhance the US commitment to Israel’s “qualitative military edge” in the region, the JTA news agency reported.
Additionally, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation that would create a strategic energy partnership between Israel and the United States, JTA said.
The House moves to increase US aid to Israel even as the United States is struggling with domestic economic issues and safety net programs like food stamps and unemployment benefits are being cut or reduced.
Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) have introduced a similar bill in the Senate.
The new aid package is in addition to the $3.1 billion in military assistance that Washington provides to the Zionist regime annually.
The military aid package to the Israeli regime is one of the few budget deals for which the majority of US Democratic and Republican lawmakers are in agreement.
A great majority of members of US Congress receive funds and perks from powerful pro-Israeli lobby groups. All new members of Congress are offered an all-paid visit to Israel to receive top-level briefings on the regime's “security needs and concerns.” (related)
Additionally, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation that would create a strategic energy partnership between Israel and the United States, JTA said.
The House moves to increase US aid to Israel even as the United States is struggling with domestic economic issues and safety net programs like food stamps and unemployment benefits are being cut or reduced.
Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) have introduced a similar bill in the Senate.
The new aid package is in addition to the $3.1 billion in military assistance that Washington provides to the Zionist regime annually.
The military aid package to the Israeli regime is one of the few budget deals for which the majority of US Democratic and Republican lawmakers are in agreement.
A great majority of members of US Congress receive funds and perks from powerful pro-Israeli lobby groups. All new members of Congress are offered an all-paid visit to Israel to receive top-level briefings on the regime's “security needs and concerns.” (related)
11 dec 2013
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6 dec 2013
Israel seeks to buy advanced missile-equipped boats from Germany at the pretext of protecting its natural gas drilling installations in the mediterranean sea, Israeli media sources said.
Israel officially told Germany about its willingness to buy advanced boats from to protect its maritime gas drilling Operations, Haaretz newspaper said.
According to the newspaper, German chancellor Angela Merkel will not decide on this issue before the new government takes office.
Germany agreed to cover a third of the cost as part of its commitment to Israel’s security.
Israel officially told Germany about its willingness to buy advanced boats from to protect its maritime gas drilling Operations, Haaretz newspaper said.
According to the newspaper, German chancellor Angela Merkel will not decide on this issue before the new government takes office.
Germany agreed to cover a third of the cost as part of its commitment to Israel’s security.
30 sept 2013
The Israeli forces will deploy advanced warships off the coast of the Gaza Strip, according to an Israeli website. The website said, "the Israeli navy decided to buy a number of sophisticated "Deborah" warships of the third generation through Israel Aerospace Industries's Ramta plant.”
The Israeli army decided to deploy some of these ships on the maritime border with the Gaza Strip to prevent infiltration and maintain security at border, it added.
This generation is considered the most advanced type of ships in the Israeli naval technology. They are characterized by their high maneuver ability, and equipped with a series of advanced military missiles.
The Israeli army decided to deploy some of these ships on the maritime border with the Gaza Strip to prevent infiltration and maintain security at border, it added.
This generation is considered the most advanced type of ships in the Israeli naval technology. They are characterized by their high maneuver ability, and equipped with a series of advanced military missiles.
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