Lately, the State Department has been…um…fumbling for the right words to describe Israel's illegal blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip. Just look at the ludicrous exchange between a reporter and State Department spokesperson Robert Wood at a press briefing last week here.
Discussing whether pasta is a dual-use weapon might be funny were it not for the fact that Israel's illegal blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip is barely keeping 1.5 million people at survival levels.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged $900 million in U.S. aid at the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza.
At first glance, this pledge seems fair given that U.S. military aid to Israel was responsible for the destruction of an estimated $2 billion in Palestinian civilian infrastructure. But, look closer at the pledge, and you'll find that not one dollar is devoted to the reconstruction of the occupied Gaza Strip.
Instead, the money, if approved by Congress, will go towards humanitarian aid ($300 million), budgetary support for the Palestinian Authority ($200 million), and economic and institutional reforms in the West Bank ($400 million).
For details on the pledge package, please click here. Worse yet, in her speech to the donor's conference, Clinton made no mention of ending Israel's illegal military occupation of the Gaza Strip or lifting Israel's illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip. For the text of her remarks, please click here.
TAKE ACTION:
1. Contact Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by text or email by clicking here.
While traveling in the Middle East and Europe through Saturday,
Here are some suggested questions for the Secretary of State, or write your own:
* UN Security Council Resolution 1860 "Calls for the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout
* President Obama stated that "
* Rep. Dennis Kucinich has requested that the State Department investigate
* State Department spokesperson Robert Wood was unclear if the
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a DIFFERENCE!
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