Peace in the Middle East Part 1 - Stopping Israeli Settlement Construction

There has been a lot of talk lately, of the Obama administration's conflict with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the issue of settle construction in the West Bank. The most irritating thing about this entire discussion is the ease with which the Obama administration could put an end to settlement construction if they really wanted to. It is cases like this that prove that America is not some independent arbitrator between the Israeli and Palestinian people. America has so much leverage over the Israeli government that it is blatantly disingenuous for an American President to ever claim that despite trying everything possible Israel will not relent on some issue, whether that issue is bombing civilians in the Gaza strip, or building illegal settlements in the West Bank.

In 2007 alone, America gave Israel more than two and a half billion (with 9 zeros) dollars, most of which was in the form of military aid. If President Obama really wants the settlement construction halted, all he would need to do is tell Mr. Netanyahu that America will not give another penny in military aid until the settlement construction stops completely. In fact, this tactic could be used, if the President truly wanted peace, to finally establish a two state solution to the Israeli debacle. The fact that no President has ever threatened to stop the copious amounts of American tax payer dollars that go to Israel, every single year, shows the lack of will in America for peace in the middle east.

1000 dead - half of them women and children

While the pro-Israel lobby evades questions about morally bankrupt weapons and their media teams assault journalists and politicians to avoid condemning their actions, the IDF has killed over 1000 Palestinians. They claim to be targeting Hamas leadership and they claim that this action is in response to Hamas breaking a ceasefire by launching rockets into Southern Israel. While the western news media has repeatedly reported that Hamas broke the ceasefire the fact is that the Israelis broke the ceasefire by storming into Gaza on November 4th and killing 6 members of Hamas.

As for the Israelis claim that they are targeting Hamas only and that the civilian deaths are an unfortunate consequence I have only this to say. If you have killed as many or more civilians than legitimate targets you are either horribly inept and should not be engaging in military action, or you are lying and the civilians are intended targets.

In America, so much energy, money and passion is devoted to the "pro-life/anti-abortion" movement. The idea that every life is sacred, even the little zygote is a human being. But where are these voices when 300 children, human beings with names, and dreams, and hopes, and parents, and siblings, and teachers are killed. Where is the outrage at the murder of all these children? My guess is those same people who beat the drum about the sanctity of life for the blastocyst are also rallying behind Israel on this one in the hopes that this conflict will bring about their much anticipated revelation that they learned by reading Left Behind.