Jewish Group Questions Use Of Arms By Israel

Jewish Voice For Peace Asks Congress To Question Sale Of Weapons

May 23, 2009

Jewish Voices For Peace is part of a new campaign to investigate the use of arms sold to Israel. The group says that Israel committed human rights violations in Gaza.

A left-wing Jewish group is pressing the United States Congress to investigate as to whether United States law was followed during the recent Israeli incursion into Gaza.

Jewish Voices for Peace contends that Israel was not held in compliance with the US Arms Control Export Act. The group contends the Israel used arms supplied by the United States in an offensive manner and in a manner not consistent with concern for human rights.

Purpose of the Arms Control Export Act

The act was passed in 1976, during the Carter administration and reflected that administration’s concern for human rights. The active part of the act states that the United States can take action regarding arms sales to other nations if the sales :

would contribute to an arms race, aid in the development of weapons of mass destruction, support international terrorism, increase the possibility of outbreak or escalation of conflict, or prejudice the development of bilateral or multilateral arms control or nonproliferation agreements or other arrangements.

Action regarding the sales of arms used in the incursion in Gaza was raised in January of 2009 by Democratic United Sattes Senator From Ohio, Dennis Kucinich. Kucinich raised this issue to then Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. The act requires that there be a follow up report by the President to Congress.

Jewish Voices for Peace Asks for Follow-Up to Use of Arms in Gaza

The group Jewish Voices for Peace has initiated a web-based campaign asking for a full investigation as to whether arms used by Israel and supplied by the United States were used in human rights violations in Gaza. The group is asking people to send e-mails to members of the United States Congress asking for such an investigation. The e-mail message reads in part:

Unfortunately numerous human rights organizations have documented direct attacks on civilians in Gaza, and attacks that were disproportionate or indiscriminate, and some apparently deliberate. When these activities are funded with our money, America's democratic principles and standing in the world are severely compromised. The long-proven American and international safeguards for civilian populations MUST be followed.

Congress must establish an independent and impartial investigation of violations and abuses against civilians in Gaza, and publish the results.

The website for With Strings Attached also includes testimonials for supporters of the campaign.

The copyright of the article Jewish Group Questions Use Of Arms By Israel in Activism is owned by Jon Pike. Permission to republish Jewish Group Questions Use Of Arms By Israel in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.