Congressmen to recommend cutting back military support to Israel

Feb. 25, 2009

Last week saw a parade of American congressmen to Gaza on separate fact-finding missions to the Holy Land. In keeping with the undertone of anti-Israel sentiment seeping out from the new administration, Rep. Brian Baird, a Democrat from Washington state, planned to report back to DC that the U.S. should reassess its military support for the Jewish state.

Baird said he was troubled by the American origin of much IDF weaponry used in Gaza and suggested that America reconsider military aid and weapons sold to Israel.

"We need to use every pressure available to make these needed changes happen," he said. "If our colleagues had seen what we have seen, I think their understanding of the situation would be significantly impacted. They would care about what happened to the Palestinians."

The congressman alleged that Israel had "apparently willfully destroyed any capacity of the Palestinians to rebuild their own infrastructure" and said he was struck, he said, by "the level of destruction, the scope of it, specifically the civilian targets - schools, hospitals, industry."

Baird managed to balance his message with some photos he took of damage from rocket fire on Sderot, which he did condemn. He he said he plans to bring in aid and medical workers from Gaza to share their stories.

Displaying his lack of knowledge of the situation, such as security and humanitarian aid being held hostage by Hamas, the congressman called for more humanitarian aid and goods to Gaza, accompanied by open border crossings that would allow Palestinians to travel for trade and medical care-- and presumably terror attacks.

He visited Gaza with Rep. Keith Ellison (D Minnesota)

Pro-Israel organizations, while upset at Baird’s conclusions, weren't concerned that many minds would be changed.

"By and large, we continue to see support for Israel and understand why it was necessary for Israel's leaders to do what they did," one official said about Congress, speaking anonymously. "I'm not afraid of these members coming back and giving a briefing."