U.S. should rethink support of Israel

Israel's use of U.S. made weapons in its attacks on the Palestinians is a clear violation of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, which prohibits U.S. weapons from being used for nondefensive purposes.

U.S. Media coverage of Israeli attacks on the Palestinians mostly treat the U.S. government as either an innocent bystander or an honest broker in the conflict, without giving a full sense of the importance of the nation's role as a supplier of arms, aid, and military technology to Israel. In its role as Israel's primary arms supplier, the U.S. can and must demand compliance to U.S. laws and treaties.

Israel remains the top recipient of U.S. military and economic assistance. America's support to Israel and its policies has, with very few exceptions, been unconditional and without accountability.

This unconditional support has only fostered and contributed to Israel's irresponsible, reckless and arrogant behavior. Thus far, America's refusal to play the role of a fair broker to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been very damaging.

The longer we delay in waking up to the glaring reality, the more exponentially difficult it will become to attain and sustain a lasting resolution to the Middle East conflict.

War crimes being committed by the Israelis need to be investigated and those responsible need to be held accountable.

Building on President-Elect Barack Obama's theme of "Change, We Can Believe In" and echoing the mantra of "Yes, We Can", we call on our government to embrace and engage in a new world order where people of all races, ethnicities and creed live in justice and fairness. Not a new world ordered, where people are persecuted by the intransigence and dictates of some.

Dr. Shafic M. Budron

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

Burr Ridge