WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/1/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced its opposition to efforts to give the Israeli government an additional $14 billion in American taxpayer dollars that would be used to commit additional war crimes against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and maintain the ongoing illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
CAIR said that rather than exacerbating the conflict with additional weaponry, lawmakers should endorse and support the Ceasefire Now Resolution.
SEE:Urge Congress to Support Ceasefire on Gaza Now
Today, there was another Israeli assault on the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, resulting in an undisclosed number of casualties, yet we are still considering seeding more funds to aid this genocide and inhumane war that breaks the international laws of war.
SEE: CAIR Says ‘Running Out of Words’ to Describe American Muslim Community’s Disappointment with Biden Admin After Second Israeli Attack on Gaza Refugee Camp
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“It makes no sense for our nation to give Benjamin Netanyahu’s government $14 billion that he will undoubtedly use to target more Palestinian civilians while we also give those very same Palestinian civilians millions in humanitarian aid; it’s like paying both the arsonist and the firefighter.
“Our nation should not send a single taxpayer dollar to Benjamin Netanyahu’s openly racist and admittedly genocidal government, which would use the funds to continue massacring civilians in Gaza and sustaining the illegal occupation of Palestinian land.
“Our government is betraying the trust of the American people. They should keep American taxpayer dollars at home to take care of the unemployed, uninsured, protect students in schools, and shelter the homeless.”
BACKGROUND:
House GOP members are supporting an appropriations bill to provide aid to Israel’s Department of Defense. Here is a breakdown of the funding:
- $4.4 billion to replenish domestic defense stockpiles.
$4 billion to replenish Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems. - $3.5 billion in Foreign Military Financing for the procurement of advanced weapons systems and defense articles and services.
- $1.2 billion for the continued development of the Iron Beam system to counter short-range threats.
- $1 billion to support artillery and munitions production.
The $14.3 billion would be taken from the $80 billion designated in President Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act for the IRS. The IRS intends to utilize these funds to modernize its aging computer infrastructure, enhance customer service, and intensify efforts to recover an estimated $600 billion in uncollected taxes each year, with a significant portion originating from affluent individuals who underreport their income.
SEE: House Republicans aim to pay for Israel aid with cuts to IRS funds
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La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-999-8292, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com