Americans should ask themselves why they should be financing the “largest pledge of U.S. military assistance made to any country.”
After nine months of protracted negotiation, the Obama administration finally signed a ten-year, $38 billion military aid agreement with Israel on September 14. The deal has been explained as both “compensation” to Netanyahu for America’s role in securing the Iran nuclear agreement and as a burnishing of Obama’s legacy for giving the largest aid package ever to Israel. Whatever dubious value those objectives may offer the U.S. taxpayer, there are at least seven reasons why Congress should defund the deal as it comes up in annual appropriation bills.
1. Israel doesn’t deserve a reward. In addressing Congress in 2015 to argue against the Iran nuclear agreement and in spending millions to lobby against the agreement, Prime Minister Netanyahu not only disrespected the U.S. President, but also interfered in American foreign policy. Moreover the nuclear deal, far from increasing Israel’s security risk, has substantially reduced it. The Iranians have dismantled their nuclear facilities and are complying with the agreement. So why the compulsion to compensate Israel?
2. Israel doesn’t need more U.S. arms. Israel already has a vibrant defense industry, which is a major supplier of the Israel Defense Force (IDF). With defense equipment exports totaling $7 billion, including substantial sales to the United States, Israel is the sixth largest arms exporter in the world. In comparison with Iran and other Middle East neighbors, Israel has an overwhelming military superiority. For example, Israel’s defense budget is $15.6 billion; Iran’s is $6.3 billion. According to GlobalFirepower.com, Israel ranks 16th out of 126 countries on the GFP Power Index, as compared with Iran, which ranks 21st. Why does a nation with 10,185 armored fighting vehicles 4,170 tanks 681 aircraft, and 48 attack helicopters need American billions for additional equipment?
3. The deal allows Israel to earn interest on U.S. borrowed money. The U.S. pays interest on its borrowed money to fund the annual grant disbursements of arms aid to Israel. Such disbursements are paid in full and in advance. This allows Israel to bank the grant money as received and earn interest on it until arms purchases over the year exhaust the grant. Thus the American taxpayer foots the bill—not only for the arms, but also for the interest on the borrowed money, while Israel accumulates bank interest on the unexpended portion of the grant.
4. Israel is likely to use the U.S. arms against Palestinians. Israel has relied on U.S.-supplied arms in its serial wars on Gaza in 2008-2009, 2012 and 2014. Those wars have taken a heavy toll on civilians (including large numbers of women and children). History tells us that such arms are more likely to be used against Palestinians than against Iran or other neighbors. With tensions rising, another war on Gaza looms on the horizon.
5. The arms deal furthers the occupation and the settlements. Since money is fungible, the U.S. grant allows Israel to divert portions of its own military budget to subsidize the illegal settlements. Although the actual budget figures are undisclosed, state subsidies for half a million settlers in the Occupied West Bank must represent a huge claim on the Israeli budget. With the U.S. arms deal, the Israeli government can transfer freed-up defense money to support the settlements.
6. The deal deepens US complicity in the occupation. The unconditional grant of U.S. military aid makes America a full partner in the occupation and, notwithstanding Obama’s futile protests, reflects tacit approval of the expanding settlements. If our President were serious about securing Palestinian rights, he would have so conditioned the arms pact on Israeli steps toward peace.
7. The U.S. could better use the $38 billion for its domestic purposes. Aren’t there more urgent domestic uses for the Israel arms money? Don’t we need those funds to upgrade our crumbling infrastructure, create educational opportunities and expand health care for our poor and middle class?
The U.S. Congress (most of whose members receive substantial contributions from the Israel lobby) is unlikely to balk in approving the annual grants due under the agreement with Israel. Yet a groundswell of popular opposition to the deal could cause some Members to shift away from their uncritical support of a regime that violates international law in its oppression of the Palestinians. Americans should ask themselves why they should be financing the “largest pledge of U.S. military assistance made to any country.”
Michael you should join the UN, then you can stand on your soapbox and run Israel into the ground. Come live here for awhile and understand the situation on the ground. Besides which that $38Bn is for your protection too. Who do you think gives the US all its intelligence on the middle-east and does your dirty work? Yes, us Zionists (as you would call us). And who do you think supplies the US with various military technologies that helps you and your family enjoy peace in the US, that’s right, Israel. Pull your head out the sand, even Obama who cant stand us and especially doesn’t like Bibi agreed to a deal because he knows whats good for you. Oh and btw – we are not the occupation, its been our land for 3000+ years, so the way I see it is the Palestinians are occupying our land.
As I said to Jon, I’m not anti-Jewish or anti-Israel. Rather I deplore the oppression of Palestinians that the Netanyahu government practices. My FPJ article presents the case against the Israel arms deal. Mike Hager
A total myth israel was a full partner in the iraq WMD intelligence failure. An israeli General admitted the intel failure. israels intel is no better than ours.
I recommend that you listen to Jeremy Hammond’s debate with Rafi Farber on the Tom Woods Show. Rafi explains that, as the Palestinians are descended from the same people as the Jews, they are also indigenous to Palestine. It is hard to imagine in what basis you think Palestinians should be evicted from their own land. The name for that is “ethnic cleansing”. Surely you’re not advocating that? Jeremy also demonstrates that the burden of proof is on those laying claim to the land to construct the argument as to why the occupants if that land should be evicted, and shows why the 2000 year old claim fails to make that argument. http://tomwoods.com/podcast/ep-739-libertarians-debate-creation-of-israel-compatible-with-libertarian-ideas/
Strange logic for occupation – ‘for 3000 years’ land of America did not belong only to the white skinners!
As an American, I am glad that the US supports Israel. For many reasons the US and Israel are close friends and allies. Those who hate Israel and the US will never be happy until Israel is destroyed and America diminished. That will not happen. Israel is a fantastic country with wonderful people. The closer the relationship between the US and Israel the better for both countries. As for the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians, is none of the US’s business. That is between them to decide. Also, the elite academic community as well as the international left continually demonstrate their anti Israel bias. What it really boils down to is antisemitism. Hatred of the Jewish people is nothing new, it’s been going on for centuries. Finally the Jewish people have a home and a powerful friend. I support the US helping Israel. I am standing with this marvelous country, Israel.
For the record, I respect both Jewish people (both in America and in Israel) and the State of Israel. I am proud that my Jewish friends call me “an honorary Jew.” At the same time, I deplore the Netanyahu government’s disrespect of Palestinian rights and the Israel lobby’s purchase of American political leaders.
Yes, Israel’s war crimes and oppression of the Palestinians is just “fantastic”, and it’s so wonderful that the US supports Israel’s perpetual violation of their human rights. Obviously, only an anti-Semite could oppose such crimes.
Judaism, Jon, is a fine old well respected religion. Judaism is the foundation for the two later Semite religions of Christianity and Islam.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam all venerate the God of Abraham.
Zionism is a European Nationalistic Racist Political Movements, no different to that of the German Nazi Party, particularly with Zionisms emulation of the Nazi racialist supremacy ideals.
The large majority of the worlds 15 million or so followers of the Jewish faith have neither the need nor the desire to live on stolen Palestinian land, they live in their respective homelands and integrate into society in a perfectly normal way.
Nor so Zionist Israelis who refuse to integrate into Middle Eastern society or even tolerate Palestinian sensibilities, to-day there are 5 million UN registered Palestinian refugees, all denied the right of return to their homeland, simply because they are not Zionists.
Zionist Israel is sustained by force of arms, Zionist Israel does not have the approval of the people of the Middle East, who are united in their opinion that Zionist Israel is a Genocidal Apartheid State, created by Colonial Britain and sustained by The USA. .
Zionism brings shame upon Jews.
The Zionist state of Israel consists of European jews. = not semites. Palestinian jews are semites.
The antisemitism cheap shot comes from ZioNazi Rothchild world banker state of Israel created in 1947 . The Balfour agreement from the British was addressed to a Rothchild world banker. You have been duped.
I agree with everything this article points out but I would have added all the examples of israel selling our technology to china. I would have also added links to the many instances of israel spying on America and committing espionage on our shores. When conservative Fox news does a four part story on israel committing espionage on America you know it is serious.
ussliberty.org
Philip Giraldi – Is Israel a U.S. ally?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkxuC0phFck
The Strategic Ally Myth
by Philip Giraldi,
http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2010/05/26/the-strategic-ally-myth/
The Big Lie: That Israel Is a Strategic Asset For the United States
By Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Jr.
http://www.wrmea.org/2010-september-october/what-they-said-the-big-lie-that-israel-is-a-strategic-asset-for-the-united-states.html
Is Israel a Strategic Asset?
http://www.wrmea.org/1993-february/myths-and-facts.html
Misleading Myths About the Israel-U.S. Relationship
by Steven A. Cook
http://www.newsweek.com/misleading-myths-about-israel-us-relationship-346690
After WW2 there was overwhelming world sympathy and support for a Israeli State, particularly in the USA who pressurised Britain to ignore immigrant quotas into Palestine, quotas that has been agreed between Zionist immigrant leaders and the intrinsic Palestinian population.
69 years later we have the situation where Zionist Israel is in violation of 77 United Nations Resolutions, an all time record.
The USA has used it`s veto on a further 31 occasions preventing UN resolutions critical of Zionist Israeli being passed, another all time record.
Since 1972, the USA has threatened to use it`s veto on 42 occasions, preventing Security Council Resolutions critical of Zionist Israel being debated, yet another all time record.
Not only does the USA protect Zionist Israel from the consequences of United Nations democratic decisions, the USA applies a double standards in it`s response to UN Security Council Reasolutions.
In June and August 1980, the UN Security Council declared Israels annexation of Jerusalem as “Null and Void” under international law.
In December 1981, the UN Security Council declared Israels annexation of Syria`s Golan Heights as “Null and Void under international law.
In August 1990, the UN Security Council declared Iraq`s annexation of Kuwait as “Null and Void” under international law.
For the third declaration, but not for the first two – The USA would insist on the strict application of International Law,
Arabs (and Iranians) already knew, of course, that The USA applies one rule of law for the Zionist Israelis and a quite different one for non-Zionist Israelis.
The cost of USA policy is massive to the USA, and not just financially, it cannot continue..
A great big zioNazi scam.
An old millionaire jew tells the true story in 1961. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8OmxI2AYV8
“So we see that there will be a false Christ (Messiah) and a false Israel. The true Israel will be regathered to the Promised Land only when Jesus returns to set up His kingdom, and not before. The attempt to restore Israel since 1948 is a Zionist movement by Marxist/Communist false Jews who are led by the international banking cabal. The Illuminati by war and bloodshed put Israel back onto the map in 1948 as a vehicle by which to control the kings of the world.”
http://www.jesusisprecious.org/prophecy/satans_counterfeit.htm
The truth is in the middle.
TRUE: Israel is a valuable military ally that wins with its own forces.
We also buy many new advanced weapons from Israel so we do indeed benefit.
Israeli military tech is first rate and we do buy these weapons. .
BUT IT IS ALSO TRUE Israel is a very wealthy nation right up there with Qatar, Saudi and the UAE. Israel has a very large and powerful economy and does not need aid anymore than Qatar, Saudi or UAE need.