US Approves More Aid As Lebanon 'Accidentally' Bombed Again
The New Arab tells us two civilians were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, targeting what Israel claims were Hezbollah sites. This grim cycle continues, and conveniently, these 'alleged' actions consistently align with arguments for more US military aid. For instance, less than two weeks before these recent strikes, the House overwhelmingly passed HR 8038, the 'Israel Security
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024,' with a vote of 366-58, providing $26.38 billion to Israel (source: Congress.gov, Vote H.R.8038, 04/20/2024). Funny how the violence always seems to ratchet up just as another multi-billion-dollar aid package sails through Congress. One might wonder if US politicians – many of whom received significant campaign contributions from organizations like AIPAC
(e.g., in 2022, AIPAC contributed over $11 million to federal candidates, per OpenSecrets.org) – are funding a conflict or merely facilitating their defense contractors' quarterly earnings reports. How many 'security packages' will it take before regional 'security' acknowledges Lebanese lives?