Answering the call out from the Palestinian popular committees for supporters of Palestinian rights to demonstrate about the issue of United States aid to Israel, pro-Palestinian campaigners yesterday converged on the US embassy in London. The protest followed demonstrations in the United States on September 15th and passed peacefully, with around 50 activists turning out to voice their opposition to the $8.2 million America provides Israel in military aid every day, on top of regular aid.
Israel has one of the largest standing armies compared to its total population size in the world, and also one of the highest military spending to GDP ratios in the world. Israel needs that level of spending to maintain it’s occupation, but it is unlikely Israel could maintain that level of spending without US aid. Therefore ending US aid to Israel would seriously question Israel’s ability to maintain the occupation of Palestine.