View a three minute video here that shows the amount of foreign aid given to the state of Israel over the past six decades. Yet, over the past four decades all U.S. Presidents have stated their opposition to Israel building settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem (and Gaza until 2005). However, none of these Presidents have enforced their verbal criticisms with actions that carried consequences to Israel for failing to comply with their forceful statements. Not only has military and economic aid continued unabated to Israel, unconditional diplomatic support for Israel in the United Nations has also continued unabated. The U.S. has exercised its veto in the United Nations Security Council. on behalf of Israel, over 40 times since 1972. Although the official policy of the United States has been against Israel building more settlements, the government of Israel has continued to build settlements and at the same time has continued to receive more military and economic aid that any other country in the world as well as unconditional support in the United Nations. Not surprisingly, the number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has increased from none before the 1967 war to nearly 500,000 today. Read an article in the Washington Post that includes the statements of six U.S. Presidents about settlements juxtaposed against the Israeli settlement populations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem (and Gaza until 2005) here.

Even though the United States is expected to be a fair, balanced and impartial mediator between the Israeli government and the Palestinian government, the overwhelming support given to the state of Israel casts doubt on these expectations. Read the comments of Professor Stephen Walt about U.S. foreign policy in his blog from April 2009 here. Consider how his ideas might be applied to U.S. foreign policy. Consider how the piercing and emotionally charged words of a young Palestinian-American attorney found here might be applied to U.S. foreign policy.

The Obama administration appears to be taking a similar stance on settlements as the previous eight Presidents. However, the speech that President Obama made in Cairo, Egypt on June 4, 2009 contained the most critical statements toward Israel and the most empathetic statements toward the Palestinians that have been given by a U.S. President. President Obama's speech can be viewed at this URL www.whitehouse.gov/blog/NewBeginning/ and a copy of his speech can be read at this URL www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-Cairo-University-6-04-09.

An op-ed about the daunting task facing President Obama is captured succinctly by David Ignatius in the Washington Post at the following URL: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/03/AR2009060303241.html. His op-ed links to the Foundation for Middle East Peace report on U.S. Government officials statements about Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Territories from 1968 until 2009. This report can be viewed at the following URL: www.fmep.org/analysis/analysis/israeli-settlements-in-the-occupied-territories.

The U.S. Campaign to End The Israel Occupation has a Congressional Report Card that evaluates the members of the U.S. Senate depending on their support for one letter and one Senate Resolution. The detailed ratings for Illinois Senators can be viewed at this URL: www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2103.

Senator Durbin

Senator Durbin received a -1 on the U.S. Campaign Report Card. He was a cosponsor of Senate Resolution 10 entitled "A resolution recognizing the right of Israel to defend itself against attacks from Gaza and reaffirming the United States' strong support for Israel in its battle with Hamas, and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process." The summary details and a link to the Senate Resolution can be found at this URL: www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2103.

Over the years that Senator Durbin has been in the Senate, he has often adopted positions that are similar to AIPAC's. However, Senator Durbin as been a strong supporter of President Obama. To date, he has supported most of Obama's policies. It is likely that he will support Obama's policies on the Middle east.

Additional comments about Senator Durbin's positions on Israeli/Palestinian issues will be added as they become available.

Senator Kirk

Senator Kirk is a fervent supporter of Israel. Over his career, he is one of the top recipients of financial support from AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee). In May of 2011, Senator Kirk following a visit to Israel issued a report in which he recommended among other actions that the United States "make available all necessary special operations and naval support to effectively disable flotilla vessels." One of those vessels contained U.S. citizens including constituents of his from Illinois.

Additional members of Congress from Illinois will be added to the list as we learn of advocacy groups who are talking with their local representative about justice, security, peace and reconciliation in Israel/Palestine.

The U.S. Campaign to End The Israeli Occupation has a Congressional Report Card that evaluates the members of the U.S. House of Representatives depending on their support for three letters and five resolutions. The detailed ratings for Illinois Representatives can be viewed as this URL: www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2103.

Representative Jan Schakowsky (District 9)

Representative Schakowsky received a -1 score on the U.S. Campaign Congressional Report Card. She received a -1 for being a cosponsor or voting yes on House Resolution 34 and and a -1 for signing the Hoyer letter. She received a +1 for being a cosponsor of House Resolution 130. Details of these resolutions and the Hoyer letter can be found at the following URL: www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2103.

Representative Schakowsky has been an advocate for human rights and justice. She was co-chair of the Obama for President Campaign and a strong Obama supporter in his run for the Senate in 2004. She is identified as part of the Congressional Progressive Congress. She is a strong supporter of President Obama's Middle East policies. Yet, she was a signatory on the Hoyer letter that was AIPAC inspired if not AIPAC written.

She was selected for a petition endorsement pilot program of the Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy that can be reviewed here. Her letter response to the petition that was signed by 1,060 of her constituents can be viewed, downloaded and printed here. There are over 500 people whose emails are part of a Voter Voices Group to Representative Schakowsky on Israeli/Palestinian issues. Click here to read, print and download a PDF file of the emails that have been sent to this Voter Voices Group.

Additional comments about Representative Schakowsky's positions on Israeli/Palestinian issues will be added as they become available.

Representative Robert Dold (District 10)

Representative Dold, filled the position that Mark Kirk vacated to run for an Illinois seat that had been held by President Obama. Dold continued to advocate a strong committment to fully support Israel as if the government could do no wrong. He visited Israeli government officials prior to his election and again in May of 2011. After President Obama's speech, Dold issued a statement that in part reads,"I am disappointed in the President's decision to dictate terms to our ally in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace process. This is an issue that should be resolved between the two parties and the United States must respect Israel's need for long term security."

Additional comments about Representative Dold's positions on Israeli/Palestinian issues will be added as they become available.

Representative Randall M. Hultgren (District 14)

Representative Hultgren defeated incumbent Bill Foster to fill this Congressional seat. Representative Hultgren stated in March of 2011 that cutting military and financial aid to Israel was "off the table." Apparently a large number of the U.S. Congress wants to protect aid to Israel Israel from budgets cuts.

Additional comments about Representative Hultgren's positions on Israeli/Palestinian issues will be added as they become available.