Israel is full of sh*t - literally

And you thought it was just figuratively.

According to a report that examines how effective economic sanctions and divestment might be in forcing Israel to end its occupation of Palestine . . .

Israel is the “biggest exporter of fertilizers, polished diamonds and industrial oils. It exports 57% of the total world exports of fertilizers, 34% of the total exports of polished diamonds, 26% of the total exports of industrial oils and 12% of the total weapons sales.”

Why am I not surprised? They really are full of sh*t!

And that's not all.

Since 2002, Israel has become a LENDING market. Foreign aid from places such as the United States and Germany has given Israel “a powerful base of foreign currency which strengthened its economy.” Since 1996, Israel has steadily increased its Central Bank reserves initiated by a 9 billion dollar grant from the United States under the Clinton Administration in a move designed to stabilize the Israeli economy.

That's 9 BILLION DOLLARS - a GRANT - the kind you need NOT pay back.

For the record, the governments of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana had to BORROW - at interest - most of the money the federal government made available to them after Katrina AND they were forced to sign a loan agreement that included an unprecedented provision that FOREVER bars loan forgiveness - under ANY circumstance.

Don't believe me? Here's Dubya talking to Matt Lauer about it.

[Matt Lauer:] there was recently a loan package approved by Congress, a billion dollars in emergency loans for the states hardest hit by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. That's the good news. Some Democrats complain that there was wording taken out of that loan package, a forgiveness clause that has traditionally been included in loan packages in the past. And they're wondering why these three states were singled out. Would you ask Congress to go back into that legislation and reinstate the forgiveness clause?

THE PRESIDENT: I think Congress - what Congress said is that the previous loans were limited to a relatively small amount of money. These loans are much greater loans. And that what Congress has said is you'll have five years to repay, plus an additional five years to repay. And so I think it's a kind of package that Congress was comfortable with giving and I was happy to sign it.

Get it? One billion dollars loaned to our own states is so much money that they have to pay it back, while 9 billion dollars handed - as a gift - to Israel is well deserved. Or, so the logic goes.

Anyway, the report on Israel concludes that a boycott would not work.

In the event of an effective sanctions and divestment campaign, Israel is better positioned and protected from the effects for a longer period of time due to the size of these reserves.

* * *

[In fact,] Israel has also, surprisingly, gained revenue from the increase in humanitarian assistance to the Occupied Palestinian Territories since the signing of the Oslo Accords. Israel has imposed TAXES and TARIFFS on these funds and has BENEFITED GREATLY from this financial arrangement.

Jaw drops to the ground.

Israel, according [to] the AIC report, was the 10th largest arms exporter in the world. In 2001, Israel sold a variety of military systems to over 57 countries in the world. Israel is the 4th biggest arms dealer to developing countries.

Though many Arab countries have boycotted Israel for decades, countries such as Saudi Arabia will be forced to drop their boycott as a condition of joining the World Trade Organization.

Just goes to show that all the so-called opposition Israel gets from the UN is nothing but smoke and mirrors. When it comes to meat and potatoes, the UN always stands by Israel.

On the flip side, there is hope that some economic sanctions might work . . .

Though South Africa had a wealth of natural resources which lessened the economic impact of the sanctions against it, Israel’s economy relies on the import of raw materials to drive its economy. Raw materials, energy resources and unpolished diamonds made up the majority of Israel’s imports. Israel is the 8th largest per capita exporter in the world and 10th biggest per capita importer in the world.

This works against them if countries decide to stop exporting raw materials to Israel. But, generally, the US supports Israel so heavily that any significant initiative must include support from the US.

The US funds Israel at a rate of close to $3 billion per annum. In 2004, the US gave $2.64 billion to Israel. The AIC report also shows that the costs of the occupation surpass the amount of foreign aid which Israel receives. Israel has also confiscated foreign currency sent to the Palestinians.

'Oh, but Israel is so good. Israel is so fair. Israel is so honest.' What a crock of sh*t.

Even Israel's so-called 'mainstream peace movement' "supported the construction of the Separation Wall and the bombing of Lebanon."

Let's face it. Israel is a paranoid schizophrenic pariah state and the sooner the US pulls the plug on it, the better. Let them fend for themselves, or play nice with their neighbors.