In the shadow of the series of protests by opponents of the government's proposed judicial reform policies, an extremist left-wing organization called "Combatants for Peace" addressed a letter to the United States Embassy in Israel with a demand to reduce assistance that the United States gives to Israel's security forces due to the new government's measures amid the appointment of Itamar Ben Gvir to the position of Minister of National Security.
In the letter sent by the organization's representatives, they demanded that the American government significantly reduce the financial security support provided to the Israel Defense Forces and Border Patrol, claiming that the funds and equipment received could help implement right-wing policies. Ironically, some figures in Israel’s political right-wing, have also been pushing for Israel to become independent from all foreign aid, yet for completely different, libertarian-based ideologies.
U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib has demanded that the United States end financial aid to Israel during her speech at the US House of Representatives.
— VoicesForPalestine (@Voices4Pal) January 16, 2023
She has since been smeared and attacked by pro-Israeli lobbyists for her position.#IsraeliCrimes #Palestina #IsraeliApartheid
The letter by the leftist organization reads: "The Border Patrol can become, under Ben Gvir, the armed and official militia of Rabbi Kahana's movement. The intention of Minister Ben Gvir and the Otzma Yehudit party to change the instructions for opening fire on an ethnic basis is particularly appalling. The practical meaning of these measures is to throw away the conclusions of the American committee that examined the events of October 2000." The statement was referring to Ben Gvir's campaign promise to ease the IDF's 'Rules of Engagement' for soldiers which restrict the use of live fire to very specific circumstances.
Some accounts of the rules explained that a soldier cannot shoot without warning the perpetrator in multiple languages. Even in cases where there is a high probability of an imminent threat, a soldier needs to follow a series of protocols, which included getting command approval. The strict rules, along with policies like warning the residents of buildings in Gaza during wartime prior to bombing them, are reasons why the IDF has been dubbed 'The Most Moral Army In The World.'
‘Combatants for Peace’ Asking the US to Reduce Military Aid to Israel - @JewishPress - https://t.co/zrGkjGoVM7 pic.twitter.com/i9zAfAW9fd
— JewishPress.com (@JewishPress) January 17, 2023
The summary of the letter further reads: "Since, according to the [Israeli] coalition agreements, within 90 days of the formation of the government, the powers of the Border Patrol will be transferred from the police to the command of Minister Ben Gvir, we will thank you for forwarding this letter to senior officials in the US Senate for their immediate reference."
The "Warriors for Peace" organization has repeatedly made headlines in recent years for its extreme activities. Among some of their controversial activities is their annual memorial ceremony with Palestinians on the days of Israel’s solemn and sacred memorial day for fallen IDF soldiers and victims of terrorism.
Roughly 4 years ago, Israel’s “Channel 14” revealed recordings of a Jewish activist from the organization saying in a conversation with Palestinians that he is proposing to the Arabs to carry out a third intifada in order to expel the Jews from the Judean and Samaria area. "We will not leave here without you kicking us out. I am not supposed to say that because I'm From 'Combatants for Peace', but it seems to me that the Israelis will only get out of here if you plan out a third intifada.”
חייבים לחדווח אותם אלפי פעמים ולדאוג,שיחסמו אותם!
— Ilana Kadosh (@IlanaKadosh) January 17, 2023
ארגון השמאל הקיצוני "לוחמים לשלום" דורש מארצות הברית לקצץ בסיוע הבטחוני למדינת ישראל - וזאת בעקבות צעדי הממשלה החדשה, ומינוי איתמר בן גביר לשר לביטחון לאומי.https://t.co/e24C6kolcZ pic.twitter.com/LtxEmmZKIh
The "Ad Kaan" organization, a right-wing group that exposed the activities of the "Fighters for Peace" organization, stated following the letter issued by the leftist organization that "it is an organization that works in the name of human rights, but among its operatives, over the years one could find a senior officer in the Palestinian security establishment, a mechanism responsible for the death by torture of many Palestinians. We are not surprised that the organization serves the Palestinian national aspirations by exerting international pressure."
