Over 100 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians, 1 Israeli student and 2 Israeli soldiers have been killed during the recent 5-day Israeli military siege in Gaza. Since the start of 2008, at least 225 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli security forces. [Ha'aretz]

However, even as the violence rages in the Occupied Territories, President Bush has requested $2.55 billion in military aid for Israel in his proposed FY2009 budget. That's a 9% increase in military aid to Israel above and beyond actual spending in 2007. The budget request is the first installment of a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding signed between the United States and Israel in August 2007 to increase military aid by 25% over the next decade, totaling $30 billion.

The United States should be cutting off military aid to Israel for its human rights abuses and violations of the U.S. Arms Export Control and Foreign Assistance Acts, not increasing it.

Step-up Education in Your Community. Host a speaker to educate your community on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the role of US military aid, click here.

Visit the region to witness the conflict and occupation first-hand and hear from Palestinians and Israelis about the ways they are working for a just and lasting solution. Join one of Global Exchange's delegations during April and December of 2008, click here.