PH Quickie: Conditional aid to Israel isn't rocket science

Last week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, opposing Israel’s planned annexation of parts of the Palestinian West Bank. (Note: annexation is illegal under international law.)

The letter, signed by 12 members of Congress, was according to Newsweek, “groundbreaking in its simplicity.” it offers an actual blueprint for penalizing Israel if/when it follows through with the annexation.

World leaders (excluding President Trump) have condemned the annexation plan; many if not most Israel partisans are even against it. The United Nations is against it.

QUESTION: Why did only 12 members of Congress sign this letter? Of course a country that receives $10 million a day in aid from the US should obey international law. Isn’t it a no-brainer?

QUESTION: Why is this the first time someone has articulated a plan for conditioning aid to Israel? We have known for decades about Israel’s human rights abuses. Do we think Israel will just stop its atrocities out of the goodness of its heart?

Americans should be ashamed of supporting a state that starves, shoots at, and steals from its neighbors.

America should stop supporting such a state.

Kathryn Shihadahannexation, conditional aidComment