31, May 2006 The Israeli Lobby
A recent study, “The Israeli Lobby and US Foreign Policy”, conducted by two distinguished political science professors (Professor Stephen Walt of Harvard University and John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago), allege that US foreign policy is being unduly influenced by the powerful Israeli lobbyists. The authors accuse the pro-Israeli lobby, primarily AIPAC, of unduly influencing the media, and silencing critics by accusing them of anti-Semitism.
AIPAC campaigned aggressively to ensure passage of the “Anti-Hamas” bill which cut-off all funding to Hamas. This will doubtless cause enormous suffering for the already suffering Palestinians. Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota, one of the few dissenters, received a threatening call from AIPAC that “support for terrorists will not be tolerated.”
It is time for the US to insulate itself from undue Israeli influence and demand responsible behavior and accountability from both Israel and Hamas. The U.S. should withhold the more than $3 billion annual aid money given to Israel until they withdraw from occupied Palestinian land, abide by the World Court to demolish the wall and follow the strict guidelines of the Geneva Convention in its treatment of the Palestinians. It is time to apply pressure on both sides of the conflict to reach a just and lasting settlement. Hamas must in turn recognize the right of Israel to exist and be held accountable to their public pledge to halt further attacks on the Israeli civilian population.
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