Recently, Israeli commandos boarded the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, part of the Free Gaza flotilla heading to Gaza in international waters. More than 700 peace activists from 38 countries, including the United States were aboard when Israeli commandos shimmied down ropes from American Blackhawk helicopters to the decks of the ship. We know that 10 to 19 of those on board were killed and scores more injured. We have reports only from the Israeli press that those unfortunate deaths occurred because the armed commandos were attacked by the peace activists with sticks and chairs. All of the activists themselves have been abducted and detained by Israel, and none have yet been able to tell their story. The boarding of the ship in international waters, the detention of its passengers and any deaths, are in clear breach of international law. Will anyone hold Israel responsible?

Among those abducted in the attack on the humanitarian flotilla are at least two respected U.S. citizens:

Ambassador Edward Peck, who was deputy director of the Cabinet Task Force on Terrorism at the Reagan White House and State Department liaison officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon.

Former U.S. Navy signalman Joe Meadors, resident of Texas, and a decorated veteran and a survivor of the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, which killed 34 Americans and injured 174.

The ship was carrying 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the besieged people of Gaza, more than 1.5 million of them, who are forced to live in ever more deplorable conditions without adequate supplies of water, food, housing and sanitation because of Israel's refusal to lift its blockade of innocent civilians.

What will it take for the citizens of Vermont, and of the United States, to stand up and demand that U.S. aid to Israel stop now, until the Israeli government is in full compliance with U.S. and international law? In the midst of our own economic crisis Congress willingly provides the government of Israel with well more than $3 billion a year in military aid, more than to any other country in the world. Israel is the 5th largest nuclear power in the world with the best equipped military in the region. Our dollars are used against innocent civilians within Israel, and the illegally occupied territories. Last week, Peter Welch voted "yes" to add yet another $205 million for weapons for Israel. Why?

There will be never be justice or peace in the Middle East until the United States takes responsibility for its role in funding the rogue state of Israel. Isn't it time for us as responsible citizens to demand that our representatives and our government stop all aid to Israel now?

Katharine Shapiro lives in Middlesex.