Each time Israel has used a U.S. made weapon to target civilians the State Department acknowledges that these actions have significant consequences and a negative impact on the peace process. Most recently, State Department Spokesperson Richard Boucher noted on Tuesday, "we've made repeatedly clear that we oppose targeted killings. We have repeatedly criticized the use of heavy weaponry in densely populated areas because of these kind of dangers of large numbers of innocent civilians being killed." Speaking about responses to acts of terror, Boucher continued "It's important, though, I think, to remember that we all need to respond to these attacks in a way that gets at the problem, and that does contribute to ending the violence and not in a way that, as the President's - as the White House has made clear doesn't really contribute to peace."

Given these acknowledgements by your own office, the White House, and Israel’s pattern of inappropriate use, it seems to us that the State Department should act immediately to stem the flow of weaponry to Israel.

AAI has written to the State Department about this matter on several occasions. We believe that enforcing the Act now, at this critical time, will send a message that would serve several important objectives. It would: