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Take Action: House to Hold Hearing Wed. on Military Aid to Israel

U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

Send letter to subcommittee members, click here

On Wednesday, March 12, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs will hold a hearing on the FY2009 budget for international affairs, including the President's request for $2.55 billion in military aid to Israel , a 9% increase in actual spending from 2007.

This hearing comes just days after Israel 's week-long attack on the Gaza Strip which left at least 117 Palestinians dead, over half of whom were civilians and at least 22 of whom were children. Israel 's ongoing use of U.S. weapons to kill civilians is a violation of U.S. law which requires military aid to be cut off, not increased.

There is still time to take action and let the members of this subcommittee know that you oppose military aid to Israel .

TAKE ACTION

1. Have your organization endorse our sign-on letter to the subcommittee calling for it to cut off military aid to Israel . Nearly 250 organizations from 36 states plus the District of Columbia and groups of U.S. citizens abroad have already signed the letter.To add your organization's endorsement to the list below, click here. Please be sure to send in your organization's endorsement by Noon Eastern on Tuesday, March 11 to ensure your organization is included in the letter. Again, to endorse the letter-ORGANIZATIONS ONLY-please click here.

2. Call the subcommittee and let them know you oppose military aid to Israel . Between now and Wednesday morning, call the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs at 202-225-2041 to express your opposition to $2.55 billion in military aid for Israel proposed in the FY2009 budget.

3. Send your own personal letter to members of the subcommittee. Each member of the subcommittee has already received nearly 2,500 letters from individuals opposing military aid to Israel . Be sure to send your letter prior to Wednesday morning's hearing by clicking here.

4. Organize with us to challenge military aid to Israel . This subcommittee hearing is the first of many steps throughout the year in the appropriations process. The US Campaign will be challenging military aid to Israel every step of the way. Help us to educate and organize people in your community to challenge military aid to Israel by signing up for an organizing packet which includes fact sheets, petitions, and postcards by clicking here. We've already sent out 150 organizing packets around the country.Join us in our ongoing campaign to challenge military aid to Israel and sign up to be a volunteer organizer by clicking here.

SIGN-ON LETTER TO APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE WITH LIST OF ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS

TO: Senate and House Subcommittees on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Program, Appropriations Committees

To sign the letter, click here.

We are writing to let you know that our organizations oppose the President's FY2009 budget request for $2.55 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Israel , which would be a 9% increase over actual spending in FY2007.This proposed increase is the first installment of a ten-year agreement between the United States and Israel , signed in August 2007, to increase military aid to Israel by 25%, totaling $30 billion by FY2018.

Israel uses weapons purchased through FMF to enforce its illegal 40-year military occupation and siege of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip and to commit human rights violations against Palestinians in the Occupied Territories and against civilians in Lebanon . Israel 's ongoing use of U.S. weapons to enforce an illegal military occupation and to commit human rights abuses places it in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and Foreign Assistance Act.

The Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs must examine the President's FY2009 budget request for $2.55 billion in FMF for Israel in light of Israel 's violations of these U.S. laws.We urge the Subcommittee to hold Israel accountable for its violations of U.S. laws and apply the appropriate sanctions for countries that violate its terms.As long as Israel continues to violate U.S. law, the United States must cut off military aid, not increase it.

To sign the letter, click here.

Signed by,

National Organizations
1. African American Islamic Institute
2. American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
3. American Friends Service Committee
4. Benedictines for Peace
5. Code Pink-Women for Peace
6. Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism
7. Council for the National Interest
8. Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Israel/Palestine Action Group
9. Friends of Sabeel- North America
10. Israel/Palestine Network of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
11. Global Exchange
12. Green Party of the United States , International Committee
13. Jewish Voice for Peace
14. Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
15. Muslim Student Association West
16. National Lawyers Guild
17. Peace Action
18. Scientists without Borders
19. United for Peace and Justice
20. US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

Local Organizations

Alaska
1. Alaskans for Peace and Justice, Anchorage
2. Palestine Solidarity Committee, Anchorage

Arizona
1. Foundation for Ending Apartheid in Israel , Queen Creek
2. Local to Global Justice, Phoenix
3. Progressives of the Verde Valley , Sedona
4. Tucson Women in Black, Tucson

California
1. 14 Friends of Palestine , San Rafael
2. Academic Mentorship Program- University of California , Los Angeles
3. Alpine Voices for Peace, Markleeville
4. American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee- San Diego Chapter, San Diego
5. Americans for a Just Peace in the Middle East , Santa Barbara
6. Americans for a Palestinian State , Oakland
7. Americans for Peace, Santa Barbara
8. Arts and Crafts Can Do, Santa Rosa
9. Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace and Justice, Oakland
10. Borno Realty, San Diego
11. Central Coast Workers against the War, Santa Cruz
12. Committee for Justice in Palestine - University of California , Santa Cruz
13. Dream Out Loud Films, Los Angeles
14. Free Gaza Movement, El Cerrito
15. Friends of Sabeel-Southern California, Tustin
16. Fresh Clean Day Publishing, Woodside
17. Hajar Enterprises, Inc., Hawthorne
18. International Solidarity Movement-Northern California, El Cerrito
19. Islamic Center of Inland Empire , Rancho Cucamonga
20. LA Jews for Peace, La Habra Heights
21. Mann and Elias, Beverly Hills
22. Middle East Study Group, Martinez
23. Muslim Student Association- University of California , Los Angeles
24. Muslim Student Association- University of California , San Diego
25. Network of Spiritual Progressives- Sacramento Chapter, Sacramento
26. Peace and Freedom Party- California , Oakland
27. Peninsula Peace and Justice Center , Palo Alto
28. People's Coalition for Economic and Social Justice, Santa Barbara
29. Robert Levarant, MFT, Sebastopol
30. San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper, San Francisco
31. San Jose Peace and Justice Center , San Jose
32. Spectronix Research, Vineburg
33. South Bay Mobilization, San Jose
34. Stop AIPAC, Berkeley
35. University of California Santa Barbara Students for Justice in Palestine , Santa Barbara
36. University of Southern California Students for Justice in Palestine , Los Angeles
37. Women in Black, Berkeley
38. Women in Black, Idyllwild
39. Womyn for the Independence of Puerto Rico , San Francisco

Colorado
1. Colorado Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Denver
2. Friends of Sabeel- Colorado , Boulder
3. Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center , Boulder
4. Students for Peace and Justice, Boulder
5. Women's International League of Peace and Freedom- Boulder Chapter, Boulder

Connecticut
1. Coalition for Social Justice, New Britain
2. Guy Blais, Associate, Windsor
3. People of Faith, West Hartford
4. Right to Be a Kid, Old Greenwich
5. Wardrop Nigeria, Ltd., Waterbury
6. We Refuse to Be Enemies, West Hartford

District of Columbia
1. Americans Concerned for Middle East Peace, Washington , DC
2. DC Statehood Green Party, Washington , DC
3. Malcolm X Day Committee, Washington , DC

Florida
1. AGSPEC Enterprises, Delray Beach
2. Conway Dental Care, Orlando
3. Darfur 23, Tampa
4. Florida Palestine Solidarity Network, Lynn Haven
5. Green Energy Consulting & Supply, LLC, Miami
6. Hindus for Peace and Justice, West Melbourne
7. National Black United Front- Florida , Tampa
8. Ramallah American Club, Jacksonville
9. Senior Citizens Islamic Society, Miramar
10. St. Pete for Peace, St. Petersburg
11. Veterans for Peace, Northwest Florida-Chapter 135, Pensacola
12. We Are Wide Awake, Clermont

Georgia
1. Free All with Truth, Decatur
2. Valdosta Citizens for Peace in the Middle East, Valdosta

Hawaii
1. Art 4 Peace Photography and Art, Kailua
2. Friends of Sabeel- Hawaii , Honolulu

Idaho
1. Idaho Campaign to End Israeli Apartheid, Boise

Illinois
1. American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee- Chicago Chapter, Naperville
2. American Friends Service Committee, Chicago
3. Arab Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, Oak Park
4. Day Star Books, Urbana
5. International Solidarity Movement- Chicago Chapter, Chicago
6. Mosque Foundation, Bridgeview
7. Muslim Community Center of Greater Rockford , Rockford
8. One Holy Land-One State of Equality , Peru
9. United for Uganda , Champaign

Indiana
1. Christians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, Indianapolis
2. Stand Now, Attica

Iowa
1. American Friends Service Committee- Iowa Office, Des Moines
2. Cedar Valley Food Not Bombs, Cedar Falls
3. Enlighten Technologies, Cedar Rapids
4. Grinnell College Palestinian Solidarity Group, Grinnell
5. Iowa Methodist Federation for Social Action, Des Moines
6. Iowans for a Free Palestine , Cedar Falls
7. People for Justice in Palestine , Iowa City
8. Sabeel Iowa, Muscatine

Kansas
1. Heartland Muslim Council, Overland Park
2. Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice, Lawrence

Kentucky
1. Frankfort Code Pink, Frankfort
2. Louisville Committee for Peace in the Middle East, Louisville

Louisiana
1. American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee- New Orleans Chapter, New Orleans
2. Pax Christi New Orleans , New Orleans

Maryland
1. American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee- Baltimore Chapter, Timonium
2. Americans for Peace, Silver Spring
3. Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore, Lutherville
4. Carlisle Peace College , Sandy Spring
5. Friends of Tent of Nations, Cabin John
6. Peace and Justice Coalition- Prince George 's County, Lanham

Massachusetts
1. American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Massachusetts , Boston
2. Berkshire Citizens for Peace and Justice, Pittsfield
3. Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights, Boston
4. Cape Codders for Peace and Justice, Cotuit
5. Community against Hate, Holyoke
6. Merrimack Valley People for Peace, Andover
7. Neighbor-to-Neighbor Interfaith Study Group, Wellesley
8. Students for Justice in Palestine - Hampshire College , Amherst
9. United for Justice with Peace, Boston
10. Watertown Citizens for Environmental Safety, Watertown

Michigan
1. American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee- Kalamazoo Chapter, Portage
2. Detroit Area Code Pink, Franklin
3. Mid East: Just Peace, Cedar
4. Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe
5. St. Lawrence Catholic Community, Sterling Heights
6. Students for Ethical Investments- University of Michigan , Dearborn

Minnesota
1. Coalition for Palestinian Rights, Minneapolis
2. Environmental Justice Advocate of Minnesota , St. Paul
3. Middle East Peace Now, St. Paul
4. Oles for Justice in Palestine - St. Olaf College , Northfield
5. Women against Military Madness-Mideast Committee, Minneapolis

Missouri
1. Boone Tikkun, Columbia
2. Citizens for Peace & Justice in the Holy Land, Lees Summit
3. Heartland Muslim Council, Lees Summit
4. The American Muslim, Bridgeton
5. Women in Black, St. Louis

Nebraska
1. Omaha Muslim Youth Organization, Omaha

New Hampshire
1. Palestinian Education Network, Concord

New Jersey
1. Helios Group, Inc., Paramus

New Mexico
1. Middle East Peace and Justice Alliance , Albuquerque
2. Santa Fe for Justice in Palestine , Santa Fe

New York
1. Adalah-NY: The Coalition for Justice in the Middle East, New York
2. American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee- New York Chapter, New York
3. American Council on Middle East Policy, New York
4. American-Iranian Friendship Council, Armonk
5. Aria Aperta, Ozone Park
6. Brooklyn for Peace, Brooklyn
7. Caribbean and Latin America Support Project, New Paltz
8. Code Pink NYC- New York
9. Concerned Citizens for Peace, Hemlock
10. Dutchess Peace Coalition, Rhinebeck
11. Granny Peace Brigade, New York
12. Hudson Valley Pax Christi, Highland
13. Iraqis in Exile, Clifton Park
14. Jews against the Occupation- New York , Brooklyn
15. Laura Haykel, Inc., Webster
16. Middle East Crisis Response, Rhinebeck
17. Palestine Solidarity Project, Jackson Heights
18. Palestinian Action Union Square, New York
19. Palestinian Rights Committee, Albany
20. Rochester Committee for Middle East Peace, Rochester
21. Tioga Peace and Justice, Van Etten
22. Women of a Certain Age, New York

North Carolina
1. Action Center for Justice, Charlotte
2. Jews for a Just Peace- North Carolina , Chapel Hill
3. Peace Initiatives Network Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina , Durham
4. Western North Carolina Peace Coalition, Asheville

Ohio
1. Cincinnati Palestinian Rights Meetup, Cincinnati
2. Cleveland Middle East Peace Forum, Cleveland
3. Coalition for Peace in the Middle East, Youngstown
4. Congregation of St. Joseph 's-Justice Committee, Cleveland
5. Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network, Cleveland
6. Interfaith Council for Peace in the Middle East, Silver Lake
7. National Association of Muslim American Women, Columbus
8. Palestinian American Association, Westerville
9. Sisters of the Precious Blood, Dayton
10. STAND XU ( Xavier University ), Cincinnati
Oklahoma
1. Songs for Peace, Ardmore

Oregon
1. Al-Nakba Awareness Project/Palestine: Just Justice, Eugene
2. Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights, Portland
3. Families for Children of Oregon , Portland
4. Free Detainees, Sixes
5. Lutherans for Justice in the Holy Land, Portland
6. Portland Peaceful Response Coalition, Portland
7. Veterans for Peace-Chapter 929, Springfield
8. Waltkem Investment Enterprises, Portland
9. Whitefeather Peace Community, Portland

Pennsylvania
1. Bubbes and Zaydes (Grandparents) for Peace in the Middle East, Philadelphia
2. Jewish Voice for Peace- Philadelphia Chapter, Philadelphia
3. Harrisburg Middle East Justice and Peace, Harrisburg
4. Philly Poetry, Philadelphia
5. Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, Pittsburgh
6. Students for Justice Palestine- Penn State University Chapter, University Park
7. Western Pennsylvania American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Pittsburgh

Rhode Island
1. Physicians for Human Rights at Brown University , Providence

Texas
1. Interfaith Community for Palestinian Rights, Austin
2. Irish Unity Committee, Houston
3. Isquare Investment Partners, Fort Worth
4. Palestine Solidarity Committee- University of Texas , Austin
5. Pax Christi, Austin
6. Peace Farm, Amarillo
7. Progressive Action Alliance of Texas , Houston
8. United for Peace and Justice, Dallas
9. Women in Black, Austin

Utah
1. Utahns for a Just Peace in the Holy Land , Kamas

Virginia
1. Pax Christi-Pentagon Area, Falls Church
2. Shelters Plus, Huddleston
3. Students for Justice in Palestine - George Mason University , Fairfax

Washington
1. American Muslims of Puget Sound, Lynnwood
2. Evergreen Peace and Justice Community, Redmond
3. Fellowship of Reconciliation- Seattle Chapter, Seattle
4. Gaia's Blessings, Issaquah
5. Palestine Solidarity Committee, Seattle
6. Poets West, Seattle
7. Students for Peace & Justice in Israel-Palestine, University of Washington , Bothell
8. Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation, Seattle

Wisconsin
1. American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee-Wisconsin Chapter, Milwaukee
2. Johnsons Enterprise , Osceola
3. Madison-Rafah Sister City Project, Madison
4. Pagans for Peace, Milwaukee

Abroad
1. Americans against the War, Paris , France
2. Munich American Peace Committee, Munich , Germany
3. U.S. Citizens against the War, Florence , Italy
4. U.S. Citizens for Peace and Justice, Rome , Italy

To sign the letter, click here.

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