TRUTH OR FALSEHOOD

There are many rumors regarding Israel that have been used to support or deny various claims, including claims in regard to Israel's need for U.S. financial assistance. Israel reportedly receives the largest percentage of U.S. foreign aid of any country (including $30 billion in military assistance) and it is imperative that these rumors be properly labeled as either true or false so that our views of Israel are not skewed by misinformation. I call on Israeli leaders to address these rumors today so that Americans, and the American legislature, can begin to make decisions about the most compassionate distribution of U.S. foreign aid and foreign military assistance.

The first rumor is that Israel has artificially expanded its population to justify the need for more land and more financial assistance by converting many foreign non-Jews (such as South Americans) to Judaism, and by paying many others as much as $10 million or more to move to Israel to help secure the land and preserve it as Jewish property. As a result, millions of people have been displaced over the years, leaving behind in Israel their homes and property in order to make room for the new Jewish arrivals.

The second rumor is that every Jewish child in Israel automatically receives from the government a weekly stipend of U.S. $10 (worth approximately $40) from birth into late adulthood. Thus, every child potentially has thousands of dollars in savings by the time he or she becomes a teenager, unless the money was used for basic expenses.

The third rumor is that every Jewish child in Israel receives free education from childhood through college, including all graduate and post-graduate education.

The fourth rumor is that after college, every Jewish child in Israel receives a free trip to the United States with all expenses paid for them and their entire family, including thousands of dollars in spending money.

The fifth rumor is that every Jewish young adult in Israel who graduates from college receives a mortgage-free home in which to live in Israel if they so desire, with title in their name.

The sixth rumor is that if a Jewish family in Israel has more than six children, both parents can choose to remain at home and be financially supported by the government. This benefit is designed to increase procreation, as well as the family's health and wellness.

The seventh rumor is that if a Jewish family in Israel has more than ten children, the government pays them a fertility bonus of $1 million. This bonus is also designed to increase procreation.

If all or most of the above are false rumors, spread for the purpose of undermining Israel's need for U.S. financial assistance, then they need to be promptly labeled as false rumors. If all or most of the above statements are true, then they suggest the need for our legislature to begin to reassess the distribution of foreign aid and foreign military assistance so that the countries with the most need, including individuals here in the United States with dire financial needs, can receive a compassionate distribution of U.S. assistance. Horrible things will not happen to U.S. citizens just because the U.S. Congress says "no" to Israel or to any other country who is not in dire need of U.S. economic or military assistance.