Stop U.S. Aid to Israel

A PETITION TO HAVE ALL FOREIGN AID TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL STOPPED AND TO REQUEST THAT CONGRESS BEGIN AN INQUIRY IN TO WHERE U.S. TAX DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SPENT.

Whereas methods used by the Israeli government, which included government subsidies, shadowy land deals, diverted military spending and an auditing bate-and-switch in which U.S. aid was used to free up billions of dollars for spending on illegal settlements in GAZA, the WEST BANK and the GOLAN HEIGHTS.

Whereas even with preparations under way for demolishing all settlements in Gaza and four in the West Bank, housing and roads continue to be built in West Bank settlements.

Whereas this contradicts the internationally backed "road map" peace plan to halt settlement expansion.

Whereas an Israeli government-commissioned inquiry recently revealed widespread Israeli government complicity in establishing more than 100 illegal outposts.

Whereas the inquiry's former Chief prosecutor Talia Sasson, called the government's actions "a blatant violation of the law."

Whereas estimates of $50 billion to $60 billion have been spent on the settlements in Gaza and the West Bank.

Whereas entire settlements in the West Bank were built under the guise of military or security needs, even though the Israeli government didnt formally authorize them.

Whereas Israeli state and separate ministerial budgets don't break down outlays by region, making it is difficult to identify the flow of money to settlements.

Whereas U.S. administrations have only recently assessed token penalties against the government of Israel for using U.S. tax dollars for settlement construction

Whereas Israel has used private U.S. donations for which it secured U.S. tax-exempt status.

Whereas U.S. tax laws don't exempt donations for political activities such as settlements. Israel separated the World Zionist Organization from the quasi-governmental Jewish Agency. This move allowed donors to donate money for the settlements without losing tax exemptions.

Whereas even after Israel's Supreme Court in 1979 raised the bar for security-related land confiscation, the state seized thousands more acres of West Bank land on security grounds and turned it over to settlers.

Whereas during the past four decades, Israeli governments have manipulated budgets, circumstances and public opinion to make the settlement enterprise into what it is today, all foreign aid to the State of Israel should be stopped until an exact accounting can be provided showing where U.S. tax dollars have been spent.

Furthermore we request a Congressional inquiry into the accounting practices of the Israeli government be begun immediately.