Organizer of Billboard Campaign Challenging U.S. Military Aid to Israel Talks About his Evolving Views on the Middle East

Interview with Rich Forer with the Coalition to Stop $30 Billion to Israel conducted by Melinda Tuhus

Beginning in April, a group opposing U.S. military aid to Israel began running the following message on ten billboards around Albuquerque, N.M.: "Tell Congress -- Stop Killing Children! No more Military Aid to Israel." The billboards featured images of an Israeli tank on one side and a young Palestinian girl on the other side. The billboards were sponsored by the Coalition to Stop $30 Billion to Israel in the wake of Israel's invasion of Gaza, in which 1,400 Palestinians were killed, including hundreds of children.

The contract between Lamar Outdoor Advertising and the coalition was for eight weeks, but the billboards were taken down after three weeks, due to pressure on the company from pro-Israel groups. However, after negotiating a new message, the billboards were to go back up in early June. The new message did not mention killing children but says, "Tell Congress: Stop Giving Weapons to Israel with our Tax Dollars!" But then the corporate office of Lamar rescinded the agreement, after receiving more negative phone calls.

One of the Coalition members responsible for the billboards is Rich Forer, a Jewish American who was formerly a member of AIPAC, the extremely influential American Israel Political Action Committee, that has long provided uncritical support to the Israeli government's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Forer about how his views about Israel have evolved, why he joined AIPAC, and why he left.

Visit the Coalition to Stop $30 Billion to Israel website at www.stop30billion.com

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: www.btlonline.org
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