Israel is requesting $5 B per year from the US
Israel is requesting $5 B per year from the US
by Steve Kramer, Israpundit, November 7 2015
Many Americans will be outraged that Israel is requesting a large increase in its annual military aid from the United States. As it stands, Israel is the largest recipient of American aid funding. Why should it currently receive $3+ billion, let alone $5 billion?
First, there is a distinction between economic aid and military aid. Economic aid is given by many countries to many others, for reasons that presumably benefit both sides of the equation. There is no expectation that economic aid will be repaid, unless it is specifically a loan, which may or may not be repaid.
Military aid is something else. While Washington doesn’t publicize the amount of money it spends on NATO, it is a huge annual expenditure. According to uk.businessinsider.com, in 2014 the US spent $582.4 billion on NATO, almost three times more than all the other NATO states combined! Germany, the largest and wealthiest European country, spends slightly over1% of its GDP on its military cost, while the US spends 3+% of its GDP on its military budget. (NATO costs are extra and are not included in America’s military budget of about $750b).wikipedia.org
The EU, though more populous than the US, depends on Washington in many respects for its defense and its foreign policy. The recent “Iran deal” is an example. The EU followed Washington down the rabbit hole to approve the cessation of most sanctions against Iran in the hope that it will Westernize and stop financing terror or developing nuclear weapons. This misconception is irrational because it ignores everything that Iran says and does. The West is preparing to sign off on the Iran deal despite the fact that Iran has not approved it, neither by the legislature nor by the Supreme Leader. Basically, the West simply ignores Iran’s obnoxious, dangerous behavior, preferring to assume that everything will be ok in the end.
Israel harbors no such illusions. It spends about 7.4% of its GDP on the military, the West’s highest ratio. It is fearful of Iran’s growing power and reach, as well as that of the ascendent Islamic State. Both of these adversaries, which thankfully oppose each other as well as Israel, are present just beyond Israel’s borders. Strong as it is, Israel must continue to develop its military prowess to defend itself against these enemies.
America benefits from a strong Israel. Israel provides the US on-the-ground intelligence, technological innovations, staging areas for materiel, a bulwark against terrorists, a stationary “air craft carrier” in the Mediterranean, missile and drone development – and more.
In addition, a very large percentage of Israel’s military aid from the US must be spent there on American made materiel. Thousands of Americans are employed by the military industry to supply what Israel orders. Besides this direct benefit, there is a definite indirect benefit. Israel is prohibited from selling materiel co-developed with the US to countries such as China. Also, Israel’s competitive position in the arms industry is lessened by its purchase of American products instead of the development of Israeli substitutes.
Why does Israel need such a large increase in military aid? Because Iran is being freed from sanctions and will be allowed to continue its nuclear development research; because Iran will receive a windfall of $100+ billion to finance its proxy armies: Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, Hamas in Gaza, the Republican Guard in Iraq, Africa and South America, and more terror in general; because Iran will be allowed to improve its considerable prowess in ballistic missiles; because the US has left a vacuum in the region by withdrawing troops, downsizing its military, and generally adopting a position which substitutes negotiations for military intervention.
When people complain that Israel receives too much aid from the US, they ignore the fact that the US spends far more on Europe and receives far less bang for the buck. The same goes for South Korea and other places where American troops and materiel are placed.
Israel doesn’t need and doesn’t request that Americans protect it; Israel is quite capable of defending itself. Israel provides a deterrent to terrorism in the Middle East and beyond that the US values. It’s doubtful whether America could replace Israel’s deterrence for less money. There’s no doubt that if Israel didn’t exist, American troops would need to be stationed in the region.
Israel is the best US ally in the Middle East, if not globally. The US spends money on Israel, but the total is only a small percentage of its overall military expenditures. The US gains in many ways by its partnership with Israel, a win-win situation for both countries. By unleashing Iran to become the dominant Muslim power in the region, the US has necessitated increasing American military aid to Israel. The countervailing force provided by Israel is well worth the price.
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This should get some sparks flying from a few NT members.
Dear Friend Buzz: I am sure it will from the morally impaired, and fact challenged crowd.
We recently saw someone self-deluding that they held a high moral ground by using an article about the plight of the Kurds (legitimate) and claiming the actions of self-defense by Israel are equally troublesome (B.S. raised to an art form).
Terrorists in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Hezballah in Lebanon etc. perpetually launch missiles at civilian targets in Israel constantly. These same terrorists use their own population as human shields (talk about your war crimes, right there)! Israel has for decades given up its own liberated lands, paid for with the blood of patriots who defended Israel from attacks designed to liquidate the Jewish State. The land for peace model never worked. Each time Israel gave up land, it was used t launch terrorist attacks at innocent civilians. Where is the moral outrage by Israel's critics? Why the strange silence? Because they think Jewish blood is cheap, so its ok to spill it?
It is right there in the charter of the various thugocracy states and groups that they want to eradicate the Jewish State of Israel. Ah, the fact that Israel is a Jewish State. That is the real reason why low lives pretend Israel is like Turkey, rather than that the Kurds and the Israelis both are willing to do their own fighting for their right to survive.
Those who deny the facts do so in part because they don't know whereof they speak.
Mainly, they do so because they hate Israel, Jews, Judaism, America and freedom. That is why they derail, distract and involve themselves in other morally questionable practices here and elsewhere. To cover the hatred and to foment their prejudice. Maybe they should go back to the Newsvine. There they can hate peddle to their hearts content.
What Israel asks is a chance to defend themselves after the implementation of a very flawed agreement with Iran. We do not know if Iran will be more like China (keep their word on treaties after Nixon and Kissinger brought about détente) or more like North Korea (never signed a treaty they didn't violate).
What Israel asks is good for the USA, for the region and its stability, and for its right to survive. It is a bargain basement price, and easily worth the cost many times over. How do we know this? When Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and other Gulf States are on the same side as Israel in containing Iran, that caps the bottle on doubt right quick.
Let the anti-Israel, anti-Jewish, anti-American, anti freedom and morality hate mongers keyboard their stubby fingers to the nub.
Those in the know see that for what it is, and consider well the sources. They observe the lack of credibility and knowledge.
Decent, alert and objective people will support this action as they support the USA and Israel.
More good news. It matters not what the hatred in the heart crowd write here, Newsvine or where ever. That changes not a single fact on the ground.
Good for G-d. Good for humanity. Good for best outcomes everywhere over time.
E.
Those who are so pro-Palestinian and\or anti-Israel have never been to Israel, have never seen, as I have, the unprovoked savagery and devestation committed by Palestinian terrorists. Both my daughter and my son are lucky to be alive today having also experienced it more closely than I have. The critics just swallow the Palestinian narrative without question. If Israel did not have a president and government that must be strong and firm when being forced into excessive defence measures, there would be no Israel, but the critics are not concerned about that. Thank G-d a large majority of Americans and American lawmakers think differently than they do.
Well said!
E.
Well said!
See what happens when you don't always use block quotes to define what you're referring to with your comments?
It looks as though, at least temporarily (until it gets moved again), that Enoch is complimenting my comment.
No it doesn't look at the time stamp. He posted his comment yesterday.
This whole "Who are you talking to?" is easily solved by copying and pasting part of the comment you are responding to in italics at the top of your post. I don't always remember myself, but it does sometimes clear up hard feelings before they start and stops people who don't like each other from looking like they agree about something they don't.
Now is that what is meant by "Block quotes"?
"Now is that what is meant by "Block quotes"?
The above is a "block Quote". The term means 'blocking' a section of a paragraph or a comment and posting it in a manner that separates it from your commentary.
Sometimes you'll see a quote blocked off in the center of an article to make sure the words in the quote will not be taken as being written by the author of the article.
I thought that's what it meant. I just don't understand why more people don't just use it. It's easy to do and it solves all of the who are you talking to problems.
No it doesn't look at the time stamp. He posted his comment yesterday.
No what doesn't?
How is anyone, besides the person your responding to, supposed to know what you're referring to unless you tell them with a quote from the comment?
I agree that this "backward/upward" posting is getting to be a pain in the ass, and very misleading.
"If Israel did not have a president and government that must be strong and firm when being forced into excessive defence measures, there would be no Israel,......"
While you claim "The critics just swallow the Palestinian narrative without question.", you're obviously just as guilty of swallowing the Netanyahu propaganda without question.
@Jerry
"you're obviously just as guilty of swallowing the Netanyahu propaganda without question."
My opinions were formed long before Netanyahu was president.
God bless Israel and her people. They are great allies.
Bibi just announced he was going to lower taxes in Israel to spur economic growth. It's total BS that we should dig ourselves deeper into debt to pay for their defense. If they want a runaway spending problem on defense like we have they can sell government bonds like we do and dig themselves into a hole of debt or they can borrow it from Goldman Sachs. The ones to blame are the US politicians that steal our earning and dig us deeper into debt throwing our earnings away overseas.
How about zero dollars in aid for Israel, zero dollars in aid for Egypt, zero dollars in aid for Iraq, zero dollars in aid for Libya, zero dollar in aid for Yemen, zero dollars in aid for Syria, zero dollars in aid for Afghanistan, zero dollars in aid for .....
Let's spend our money at home and fix the problems we face at home before we spend any dollars on foreign aid.
Extortion is a way of life in the middle east . It has been that way unabated for hundreds of years . The main change to that way of life was the founding of Israel in the 20th century .
Let's spend our money at home and fix the problems we face at home before we spend any dollars on foreign aid.
I agree. Our infrastructure is falling apart and we're spending our money rebuilding the infrastructure of other countries. Especially ones that don't deserve our help!
I would agree with that Robert if it also meant zero dollars for the UN, especially zero dollars for UNRWA, zero dollars for the PA, not releasing the 140 billion dollars to Iran. That would bring about a definite contribution to peace in the MIddle East.
A lot of Israel's aid is spent here.
Which means they get to buy weapons systems from us, with money we just gave to them! It's welfare! If they want to buy American military equipment, great! But they should pay for it with their own damn money! Raise their damned taxes to pay for it! We have supported them for too long and it's time for them to grow the fuck up and stand up as an independent nation! Unlike what seem people seem to think Israel is NOT America's 51st state and we have zero obligation to help them any longer. They have become far too dependent on welfare from the US.
America pays out aid all over the world. Please point out ONE recipient other than Israel that spends most of it back in the USA. But I'm considering agreeing with you that all aid should be stopped, aid to every country and nation, and also stop all support to the UN and its units, such as UNRWA. Keep all the money back home to reduce the huge US debt and fix up the infrastructure so there are no more collapsed bridges and tainted water supplies.
Which means they get to buy weapons systems from us, with money we just gave to them!
Would you rather they use our money to by weapons from Russia?!
It's welfare! If they want to buy American military equipment, great! But they should pay for it with their own damn money!
I agree, but the premise of your reasoning is off. Look Randy, we give money to Israel, they turn around and use much of that money to buy weapons manufactured by American manufactures who employ American workers and technicians. Those workers and technicians use that income to buy goods and services in America, plus they pay income taxes on that money, which the government can then use to invest in our infrastructure. Plus the manufactures make a profit on the money Israel spends here, much of which they invest in R&D and the American financial sector. So you see it mudh of the money comes back here in the long run.
Raise their damned taxes to pay for it! We have supported them for too long and it's time for them to grow the fuck up and stand up as an independent nation!
Now that part I agree with, the cycle of American aid not withstanding, on one hand we hear from Bibi how wonderful and powerful and independent Israel is, and how anyone that even thinks about bringing harm to them will pay a price.
Then he turns around and says,"Can you give us an extra 5 billion?", "We're really hurting over here". Yeah right. I say fuck Israel, they're perfectly capable of solving their own financial problems. I can say that because I'm not running for office, but those fuckers know they have American politicians over a barrel and they're using the Jewish-American vote and the considerable Jewish-American campaign donations as leverage to gouge more money from us.
Unlike what seem people seem to think Israel is NOT America's 51st state and we have zero obligation to help them any longer.
That is only partially true. We have an 'obligation' to ourselves to insure we have a strong ally in the Middle East and Israel knows that. That's why they're constantly asking for more money. I'ts sort of like an international 'shake-down'.
Sooner or later Americans are going to wake up and understand that Israel is always to be our ally, they need us as much, if not more than we need them. Because with us, they get Briton, France and Germany as well as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey should any threats against Israel arise.
They have become far too dependent on welfare from the US.
Not really. They're not 'dependent on us, they've just learned how to play us.
"Fuck Israel"
Works for me :
Petey: Since I posted this article I would like to be able to see the comments that are made on it. I cannot open the video or whatever it is you posted and would very much appreciate if you could provide a text script or description of what you posted. Your opening statement: "Fuck Israel" standing alone does not indicate to me if it is a quotation, a sarcastic remark, a serious statement or whatever without knowing what follows it.
Sorry about that Buzz . It was a video of the hot night life in Tel Aviv . I hope that's clear what my intentions were .
"...those fuckers know they have American politicians over a barrel and they're using the Jewish-American vote and the considerable Jewish-American campaign donations as leverage to gouge more money from us."
1% of America's population, half of whom are supportive of Obama and the Democrats, and that is the tail that wags the American dog? What's your next propaganda joke?
zero dollars in aid for Egypt
Are you sure about that ? What about the importance of keeping the Sues canal open to navigation ?
Let's spend our money at home and fix the problems we face at home before we spend any dollars on foreign aid.
Foreign aid is given to other nations mostly as an effort to provide economic stabilization, and/or mutual defense. Such stabilization and military security is imperative to insure a healthy world economy which of course translates to a healthy US economy and a more secure homeland.
What most people don't understand is that we spend less than 1% * of our total budget on foreign aid, while we spend 18% on our military (more than the next five largest military budgets combined ).
* Other references;
NPR
Washington Post
National Priorities Project
Meanwhile, to address your concern about our domestic spending, we spend about 3.3% of our GDP on infrastructure (Forbes) on our infrastructure (which is more than the EU spends) while the Chinese are spending about 9.5% on theirs
Very difficult to read with every word capitalized in bold text.
I agree, Jerry, but otherwise the font is so small and faint I have trouble reading it myself. A method of adjusting the font size would be a benefit to this site.
My opinions were formed long before Netanyahu was president.
It seems your opinions are in line with the Israeli people who are apparently more aggressive a society than I thought.
The Palestinians are a bad bunch but they are not going to away and Israel is not going to be able to make them disappear, so there is simply no choice other than to negotiate with them.
Why negotiate? Israel vacated Gaza, gave up land - did it bring about a compromise on the part of the Palestinians? Israel has released hundreds if not thousands of prisoners who had blood on their hands (some of whom have returned to terrorism) - did it bring about a compromise on the part of the Palestinians? Israel put an 11 month moratorium on settlement building to open the door to negotiations - did that get a centimetre of compromise - no, the Palestinians waited until the 11th hour and then demanded an extension. Sorry Jerry, Israel is willing to compromise, to give up land for peace. The Palestinians will not even recognize Israel as being a Jewish state.
Sorry Jerry, Israel is willing to compromise, to give up land for peace. The Palestinians will not even recognize Israel as being a Jewish state
Sorry Buzz, I just can't agree with you. Bibi offers a dime in trade for a dollar and calls it a compromise, he over compensates for every 'attack' a Palestinian launches by mercilessly and indiscriminately bombing the strip in retaliation for a single offensive missile launch.
You look through a different lens when looking at this issue. To you the Palestinians are all bad and Bibi can do no wrong.
I understand the Palestinians are a problem, but I also understand they have some legitimate grievances, and unlike you, I think many of the problems Israel has with Palestine are do to subtle provocation by your friend Bibi Netanyahu.
What you consistently ignore Jerry is that Palestinians refuse to make any compromises with Israel ... ever . Talking about them like someone who can be negotiated with is a fantasy .
Forget it Petey. Jerry has never been to Israel so his information is hearsay, and he is just repeating the propaganda and bigotted reports he has read.
Forget it Petey. Jerry has never been to Israel so his information is hearsay, and he is just repeating the propaganda and bigotted reports he has read.
I'm curious as to how the word "bigotted" (sic) has suddenly been introduced to this discussion. That I believe there are certain positions the Palestinians hold that have a degree of legitimacy, makes my information "bigoted"?
I understand a certain amount of the published information coming out of Gaza and the West Bank is propaganda, just as I understand a certain amount of the information coming out of Israel is also propaganda, that's just the nature of political debate.
If you want to go there Buzz, one could just as easily maintain that the Israeli attitude regarding Palestinians is 'bigoted'.
As far as me never having been to Israel is concerned,
If everyone was to be required to have visited every place they comment on, Perrie would have to shut down this site, because most people have not been to most of the places they write or seed articles about.
For instance, most of us have never been to Washington D.C., does that mean we cannot discuss anything involving the US Congress?
You're aware of the lifestyle, the dangers faced, the general attitude of the people, the politics, the way of life generally of Americans throughout the country because you live there. Even if you've never been to Washington DC you have a pretty good idea of the American way of life. But you have not been to Israel and experienced seeing a bus being blown up, seeing the bombed out shell of the reception room in the Park Hotel in Netanya and spoken to the doctors who had to deal with the Passover massacre victims, or being stopped by armed gunmen in Jordan on our way to see Petra (I thought that was going to be the end of my life), been to a settlement in the West Bank. Sorry, Jerry, you can talk about what Israel should do and how they should act without being aware of what people face there, but what you have to say just might not be realistic. If you have not been to China, everything you know about the country is hearsay, you read about it, watch TV news reports about it, hear people talking about it, but there is no way you can be sure that your information is correct. You only know what other's viewpoint is. I have never been to Brazil, so how can I provide an intelligent opinion about how I think Brazilians should live, or what their government should do, not being aware of the circumstances and pressures that exist there?
By the way, I HAVE been to Washington a few times, toured the White House and the Capital Building, rode in Mayor Marion Berry's little Mercedes sports car when he took me for dinner at his favourite restaurant, attended the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, and was quite awed while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial.
Arafat was offered 95% of what he demanded. Abbas was offered by Olmert 97% of what he demanded, including Jerusalem (God forbid that Jerusalem should be given up - the biblical psalm reads: "If I should forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth.", yet it was offered to the Palestinians). The Palestinians will NEVER be satisfied until the Jews have been pushed into the sea.
Very difficult to read with every word capitalized in bold text
I agree, Jerry, but otherwise the font is so small and faint I have trouble reading it myself. A method of adjusting the font size would be a benefit to this site.
A method of adjusting the text is essential to the site.
Have you tried hold down the Control [Ctrl] key and scrolling forward to enlarge the text?
Control/scroll? Yes, Jerry, I have. In fact I think it was you who had originally suggested that. I usually "bold" my comments so that they're easier for others to read.
Control/scroll? Yes, Jerry, I have. In fact I think it was you who had originally suggested that.
I recall making that suggestion, but does it work? If it doesn't, I don't understand why. I was under the impression it is a fairly standard feature on most 'puters. Mine is a standard unglorified HP all in one desktop running on Microsoft Windows 7 and a Chrome browser.
I usually "bold" my comments so that they're easier for others to read.
Bold may stand out more, but it is not 'easier to read'. Actually large segments of bold text are harder to read in that it slows down the speed at which the reader can assimilate what they are reading.
However, the bold in the text of your article is not the only problem. The problem is that the "Headings" feature Perrie paid for is not the "Text Editor" she apparently thinks it is. It's actually a feature that allows someone publishing an article the ability to chose different size headings for their article. Most headings are posted in bold and word in a headline is supposed to be capitalized as they are with the NT 'Headings' feature.
Look at your article Buzz, every single word is capitalized. Find me one publication, on or off line, where you see the main body of the text with every word capsized. I mean, I don't blame Perrie for the blunder, she was overseeing a very complex, involved process and I'm sure she left certain things up to the professionals to be done properly. For them to install that 'Headings' feature thinking it was a 'Text Editor' was an amateurish oversight that, IMO, they are responsible for rectifying.
Control/scroll does work for me, Jerry. I wasn't aware that bolding the comments caused problems, so thanks for the heads up on that. As for the "Paragraph" function, what happens is that I post the whole article, having first posted it as Arial 12 point font on a "word" page, then copy it to a new discussion page on the site. What I tried to do was use the Paragraph function to enlarge just the headline, but it made the whole article a large size headline. So I reduced the size of the article using the paragraph function again. Unfortunately every word got capitalized. I don't do that any more.
Israel Is The Best US Ally In The Middle East, If Not Globally. The US Spends Money On Israel, But The Total Is Only A Small Percentage Of Its Overall Military Expenditures. The US Gains In Many Ways By Its Partnership With Israel, A Win-Win Situation For Both Countries. By Unleashing Iran To Become The Dominant Muslim Power In The Region, The US Has Necessitated Increasing American Military Aid To Israel. The Countervailing Force Provided By Israel Is Well Worth The Price.
I agree but I think that it is a mistake to allow Iran and Russia a green lite to shape the region; they won't shape with our interests in mind. The US has to stop trying to set up Governments but in stead use our military to go after our real enemies like ISIS an use ground forces to ground and pound these real threats and not leave our security and honor as a Nation to a foreign alliance.
Money well spent. I'd rather shore up a democracy than waste money on the UN.
5 billion a year, mostly for arms procurement, to aid our best ally in the ME, sounds like a very good deal, especially considering Israel fights on the frontlines in the battle against terrorism.
Sounds like a waste of money that will create more terrorists. For every action there is a reaction.