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Well our relationship and "closeness" with Israel is NOT debatable, as Israel has as its sole nation status a "special relationship" with the United States. Now I'm not making this up, this is the very wording used by the United States State Department and our relationship with Israel is very much unlike that of the UK, or Germany, or France or ANY other nation, hence the reason why the state department calls it a "special relationship".
Can you name one other country where it is against the law to boycott their products other than Israel?
Can you name one other country that has a State Department definition of hate speech to strongly disagree with US policy towards that nation or the nation directly as "hate speech"?
The same cannot be said of those nations, as while we may provide aid, we do not provide for the level of aid in which we provide Israel, the worlds 16th most wealthy nation, on par with most European nations. The US guarantees that even if we as American suffer a oil embargo, that we as Americans will be sure to provide Israel with all the oil it desires and needs. What other nation has such an agreement?
American foreign policy is a monster that provides aid to both sides, Israel and its Arab neighbors with singular and mono-polar recognition in favor of Israel. For instance, consider the following...
1. Resolution 42: The Palestine Question (5 March 1948) Requests recommendations for the Palestine Commission 2. Resolution 43: The Palestine Question (1 Apr 1948) Recognizes "increasing violence and disorder in Palestine" and requests that representatives of "the Jewish Agency for Palestine and the Arab Higher Committee" arrange, with the Security Council, "a truce between the Arab and Jewish Communities of Palestine...Calls upon Arab and Jewish armed groups in Palestine to cease acts of violence immediately." 3. Resolution 44: The Palestine Question (1 Apr 1948) Requests convocation of special session of the General Assembly 4. Resolution 46: The Palestine Question (17 Apr 1948) As the United Kingdom is the Mandatory Power, "it is responsible for the maintenance of peace and order in Palestine." The Resolutions also "Calls upon all persons and organizations in Palestine" to stop importing "armed bands and fighting personnel...whatever their origin;...weapons and war materials;...Refrain, pending the future government of Palestine...from any political activity which might prejudice the rights, claims, or position of either community;...refrain from any action which will endager the safety of the Holy Places in Palestine." 5. Resolution 48: The Palestine Question (23 Apr 1948) 6. Resolution 49: The Palestine Question (22 May 1948) 7. Resolution 50: The Palestine Question (29 May 1948) 8. Resolution 53: The Palestine Question (7 Jul 1948) 9. Resolution 54: The Palestine Question (15 Jul 1948) 10. Resolution 56: The Palestine Question (19 Aug 1948) 11. Resolution 57: The Palestine Question (18 Sep 1948) 12. Resolution 59: The Palestine Question (19 Oct 1948) 13. Resolution 60: The Palestine Question (29 Oct 1948) 14. Resolution 61: The Palestine Question (4 Nov 1948) 15. Resolution 62: The Palestine Question (16 Nov 1948) 16. Resolution 66: The Palestine Question (29 Dec 1948) 17. Resolution 72: The Palestine Question (11 Aug 1949) 18. Resolution 73: The Palestine Question (11 Aug 1949) 19. Resolution 89 (17 November 1950): regarding Armistice in 1948 Arab-Israeli War and "transfer of persons". 20. Resolution 92: The Palestine Question (8 May 1951) 21. Resolution 93: The Palestine Question (18 May 1951) 22. Resolution 95: The Palestine Question (1 Sep 1951) 23. Resolution 100: The Palestine Question (27 Oct 1953) 24. Resolution 101: The Palestine Question (24 Nov 1953) 25. Resolution 106: The Palestine Question (29 Mar 1955) 'condemns' Israel for Gaza raid. 26. Resolution 107: The Palestine Question (30 Mar) 27. Resolution 108: The Palestine Question (8 Sep) 28. Resolution 111: " ... 'condemns' Israel for raid on Syria that killed fifty-six people". 29. Resolution 127: " ... 'recommends' Israel suspends its 'no-man's zone' in Jerusalem". 30. Resolution 162: " ... 'urges' Israel to comply with UN decisions". 31. Resolution 171: " ... determines flagrant violations' by Israel in its attack on Syria". 32. Resolution 228: " ... 'censures' Israel for its attack on Samu in the West Bank, then under Jordanian control". 33. Resolution 237: " ... 'urges' Israel to allow return of new 1967 Palestinian refugees". 34. Resolution 242 (November 22, 1967): Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area. Calls on Israel's neighbors to end the state of belligerency and calls upon Israel to reciprocate by withdraw its forces from land claimed by other parties in 1967 war. Interpreted commonly today as calling for the Land for peace principle as a way to resolve Arab-Israeli conflict 35. Resolution 248: " ... 'condemns' Israel for its massive attack on Karameh in Jordan". 36. Resolution 250: " ... 'calls' on Israel to refrain from holding military parade in Jerusalem". 37. Resolution 251: " ... 'deeply deplores' Israeli military parade in Jerusalem in defiance of Resolution 250". 38. Resolution 252: " ... 'declares invalid' Israel's acts to unify Jerusalem as Jewish capital". 39. Resolution 256: " ... 'condemns' Israeli raids on Jordan as 'flagrant violation". 40. Resolution 259: " ... 'deplores' Israel's refusal to accept UN mission to probe occupation". 41. Resolution 262: " ... 'condemns' Israel for attack on Beirut airport". 42. Resolution 265: " ... 'condemns' Israel for air attacks for Salt in Jordan". 43. Resolution 267: " ... 'censures' Israel for administrative acts to change the status of Jerusalem". 44. Resolution 270: " ... 'condemns' Israel for air attacks on villages in southern Lebanon". 45. Resolution 271: " ... 'condemns' Israel's failure to obey UN resolutions on Jerusalem". 46. Resolution 279: " ... 'demands' withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon". 47. Resolution 280: " ... 'condemns' Israeli's attacks against Lebanon". 48. Resolution 285: " ... 'demands' immediate Israeli withdrawal form Lebanon". 49. Resolution 298: " ... 'deplores' Israel's changing of the status of Jerusalem". 50. Resolution 313: " ... 'demands' that Israel stop attacks against Lebanon". 51. Resolution 316: " ... 'condemns' Israel for repeated attacks on Lebanon". 52. Resolution 317: " ... 'deplores' Israel's refusal to release Arabs abducted in Lebanon". 53. Resolution 332: " ... 'condemns' Israel's repeated attacks against Lebanon". 54. Resolution 337: " ... 'condemns' Israel for violating Lebanon's sovereignty". 55. Resolution 338 (22 October 1973): cease fire in Yom Kippur War 56. Resolution 339 (23 October 1973): Confirms Res. 338, dispatch UN observers. 57. Resolution 347: " ... 'condemns' Israeli attacks on Lebanon". 58. Resolution 425 (1978): " ... 'calls' on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon". Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon was completed as of 16 June 2000. 59. Resolution 350 (31 May 1974) established the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Syria in the wake of the Yom Kippur War. 60. Resolution 427: " ... 'calls' on Israel to complete its withdrawal from Lebanon". 61. Resolution 444: " ... 'deplores' Israel's lack of cooperation with UN peacekeeping forces". 62. Resolution 446 (1979): 'determines' that Israeli settlements are a 'serious obstruction' to peace and calls on Israel to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention". 63. Resolution 450: " ... 'calls' on Israel to stop attacking Lebanon". 64. Resolution 452: " ... 'calls' on Israel to cease building settlements in occupied territories". 65. Resolution 465: " ... 'deplores' Israel's settlements and asks all member states not to assist Israel's settlements program". 66. Resolution 467: " ... 'strongly deplores' Israel's military intervention in Lebanon". 67. Resolution 468: " ... 'calls' on Israel to rescind illegal expulsions of two Palestinian mayors and a judge and to facilitate their return". 68. Resolution 469: " ... 'strongly deplores' Israel's failure to observe the council's order not to deport Palestinians". 69. Resolution 471: " ... 'expresses deep concern' at Israel's failure to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention". 70. Resolution 476: " ... 'reiterates' that Israel's claim to Jerusalem are 'null and void'". 71. Resolution 478 (20 August 1980): 'censures (Israel) in the strongest terms' for its claim to Jerusalem in its 'Basic Law'. 72. Resolution 484: " ... 'declares it imperative' that Israel re-admit two deported Palestinian mayors". 73. Resolution 487: " ... 'strongly condemns' Israel for its attack on Iraq's nuclear facility". 74. Resolution 497 (17 December 1981) decides that Israel's annexation of Syria's Golan Heights is 'null and void' and demands that Israel rescinds its decision forthwith. 75. Resolution 498: " ... 'calls' on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon". 76. Resolution 501: " ... 'calls' on Israel to stop attacks against Lebanon and withdraw its troops". 77. Resolution 508: 78. Resolution 509: " ... 'demands' that Israel withdraw its forces forthwith and unconditionally from Lebanon". 79. Resolution 515: " ... 'demands' that Israel lift its siege of Beirut and allow food supplies to be brought in". 80. Resolution 517: " ... 'censures' Israel for failing to obey UN resolutions and demands that Israel withdraw its forces from Lebanon". 81. Resolution 518: " ... 'demands' that Israel cooperate fully with UN forces in Lebanon". 82. Resolution 520: " ... 'condemns' Israel's attack into West Beirut". 83. Resolution 573: " ... 'condemns' Israel 'vigorously' for bombing Tunisia in attack on PLO headquarters. 84. Resolution 587 " ... 'takes note' of previous calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and urges all parties to withdraw". 85. Resolution 592: " ... 'strongly deplores' the killing of Palestinian students at Bir Zeit University by Israeli troops". 86. Resolution 605: " ... 'strongly deplores' Israel's policies and practices denying the human rights of Palestinians. 87. Resolution 607: " ... 'calls' on Israel not to deport Palestinians and strongly requests it to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention. 88. Resolution 608: " ... 'deeply regrets' that Israel has defied the United Nations and deported Palestinian civilians". 89. Resolution 636: " ... 'deeply regrets' Israeli deportation of Palestinian civilians. 90. Resolution 641: " ... 'deplores' Israel's continuing deportation of Palestinians. 91. Resolution 672: " ... 'condemns' Israel for "violence against Palestinians" at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. 92. Resolution 673: " ... 'deplores' Israel's refusal to cooperate with the United Nations. 93. Resolution 681: " ... 'deplores' Israel's resumption of the deportation of Palestinians. 94. Resolution 694: " ... 'deplores' Israel's deportation of Palestinians and calls on it to ensure their safe and immediate return. 95. Resolution 726: " ... 'strongly condemns' Israel's deportation of Palestinians. 96. Resolution 799: ". . . 'strongly condemns' Israel's deportation of 413 Palestinians and calls for their immediate return. 97. Resolution 1559 (2 September 2004) called upon Lebanon to establish its sovereignty over all of its land and called upon Syria to end their military presence in Lebanon by withdrawing its forces and to cease intervening in internal Lebanese politics. The resolution also called on all Lebanese militias to disband. 98. Resolution 1583 (28 January 2005) calls on Lebanon to assert full control over its border with Israel. It also states that "the Council has recognized the Blue Line as valid for the purpose of confirming Israel's withdrawal pursuant to resolution 425. 99. Resolution 1648 (21 December 2005) renewed the mandate of United Nations Disengagement Observer Force until 30 June 2006. 100. Resolution 1701 (11 August 2006) called for the full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. 101. Resolution 1860 (9 January 2009) called for the full cessation of war between Israel and Hamas.
Now out of those many UN resolutions, how many did the United States veto? I have the number in case you are interested because it is essentially all of them.
So, why is it that the United States goes to war over a SINGLE UN resolution with Iraq, yet forgives the countless UN resolutions against Israel?
If the UN is biased in favor against Israel then one might wonder why it favored the resolution against Iraq, but then again we know the difference between a strong arm and a evidence.
Ok, if Israel isn't the "would, coulda, shoulda" weasal type then why do they accept US hand outs like a beggar on the street looking for a crack fix?
If Israel is so progressive, so strong, so modern, then why does it need the United States tax payers to fund nearly 10% of its existence. After all if it is the superior, gem that it is, then why does it need all this foreign aid? If it is a gem and a grand place that doesn't need foreign aid, then why does the United States tax payer have to be required to fund a foreign nation above its own, especially in times of economic crisis? After all, if Israel is the golden calf of the Middle East then surely they don't need the United States propping them up like some third world tin pot government, right?
Israel is powerful because it kicks ass and takes names. Every time.
Israel I so love... it is welcome to pursue whatever interests it sees fit. If Israel wants to harvest rainbows and sunshine, then rock on... congratulations, I'm happy for them. If Israel wants to slaughter its neighbors which it sees as enemies, then oh be to joy, good for them, they are welcome to do as they see fit for their own interest. I don't want to tell Israel what is best for them, but I also don't want US foreign policy being formulated around Israel either.
I care about the United States of American FIRST, not Israel, not the UK not Egypt and none of those countries interest are OUR interest no matter how much someone tells you that they are. I'm all for Israel doing whatever Israel wants to do, they should have that right, but for the love of God, they will not do it at the expense of my country, the United States of America. We are not a free hand out, we are not a free ride, we have our own people to consider FIRST.
I couldn't have said it better myself-Aman Brother
No,the problem is that we have countries that are willing to stand side by side to go to war with us and there are countries that we help and get nothing in return.We have given federal aid to a ton of countries but you seem to pick on one------showing your specific agenda!
I have done mine too------exposed an Anti-Semetic individual.
Two quick notes:
#1: Jews as a group believe in education, frugality, civility, sobriety, etc.---------all of which are huge advantages in any First World environment.
#2: believe it or not: Arabs (of any religion) are also Semites-----------it is not just a Jewish thing.
How many other nations also benefit from United States generosity...and never get criticized?
That is because other nations receiving U.S. taxpayer dollars and aid from the do not have this "special little friendship" with Israel that the United States government and the State of Israel took upon themselves to establish, without consulting with the America citizens and taxpayers first. I certainly do not ever recall being asked by the U.S. government if I agreed to the United States being a surrogate parent to Israel, responsible for providing Israel with my tax dollars, so that Israeli citizens can live like kings, while the rest of the Middle East and Africa starves. There are many other countries of the same size and population as Israel, but with a heck of a lot more natural resources to offer the United States, which the U.S. government can be a surrogate parent too. Unfortunately, unlike Israel, these small impoverished nations don't have the liberty of having their political leaders parade around Washington D.C., disguised as lobbiest; freely walking through the corridors of the United States Congress and Senate seeking U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund Israel's existance.
That is because other nations receiving U.S. taxpayer dollars and aid from the do not have this "special little friendship" with Israel that the United States government and the State of Israel took upon themselves to establish, without consulting with the America citizens and taxpayers first. I certainly do not ever recall being asked by the U.S. government...
No, there are lots of things you haven't been asked by the U.S. government. How many other issues upon which the government has not solicited your opinion do you rant about in this fashion?
No, my point is that these countries are forever needy also, but do not evoke the same emotion and resentment from you.
Those nations are in despair and thus are needy, Israel is a relatively rich nation on par with places like Belgium and Lithuania and most European nations. Why does the the worlds 16th most wealthy nation need so much financial support from the United States? Why does the Middle East only alleged democracy and free society require so much political, economic and social support?
I am all for Israel's self determination and right to do what other free nations do, I only ask that they do it without being a begging welfare recipient. It is one thing to be a poor struggling nation with your hand out, it is quite another to be an economically vibrant, diverse and thriving country and have your hand out.
As so many pro-Israeli folks point out, Israel is the beacon light of the Middle East, it is a nation of all those things I mentioned above, and yet, it still owes its very existence to the compassion of the United States. Because if Israel is the power that so many claim it to be, then it should have no problem living its own existence on its own legs and not with the US wheelchair underneath.
I don't wish my country to dole out foreign aid for any reason shy of actual crisis aid and I have so stated before repeatedly. It matters not if it is Egypt, Columbia or Israel but I shouldn't have to qualify or quantify any statement of criticism towards Israel with other recipients, as we hold no other place to such a standard of critical assessment. Just because the people of Israel are Jewish doesn't mean they are above criticism and it doesn't mean they are not subject to the same human failings as everyone else.
Well our relationship and "closeness" with Israel is NOT debatable, "[/b].
That is a good thing.
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Can you name one other country where it is against the law to boycott their products other than Israel?
Can you name one other country that has a State Department definition of hate speech to strongly disagree with US policy towards that nation or the nation directly as "hate speech"?
Can you name one other country that is surrounded by countries whose governments and religious leaders want it eradicated and its people murdered?
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The same cannot be said of those nations, as while we may provide aid, we do not provide for the level of aid in which we provide Israel, the worlds 16th most wealthy nation, on par with most European nations.
How absurd. No European nation faces anything like the external threats Israel does.
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Now out of those many UN resolutions, how many did the United States veto? I have the number in case you are interested because it is essentially all of them.
And I for one am immensely proud of my country for having done so, and having resisted the craven cowardice of the UN in kow-towing to the bloodthirsty Arab theocracies which proposed such monstrous and unfair statements of institutional prejudice --- all knowing full well that the US would veto them.
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So, why is it that the United States goes to war over a SINGLE UN resolution with Iraq, yet forgives the countless UN resolutions against Israel?
For the same reason that the US remains hamstrung by having to have its Presidents learn on the job instead of being prepared by parliamentary debate. Below, you profess undying allegiance to OUR country FIRST. Well, the inconsistency it shows in international relations is something you have to swallow along with the many positive aspects of our national essence. You must admit, though, that our support of Israel remains steadfast and consistent. I find that reassuring.
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Ok, if Israel isn't the "would, coulda, shoulda" weasal type then why do they accept US hand outs like a beggar on the street looking for a crack fix?
That makes no sense, and merely offers up yet another pointless slur. The facts are that Israel exists, Israel has resisted and defeated those who have attacked it, and Israel engages in foreign policy deliberations designed to frustrate those who admire the Nazi approach to The Jewish Question. If that constitutes beggary, perhaps a major in Tin Cup Studies might be in order for the worthless autocracies who sing and dance for our spare change.
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If Israel is so progressive, so strong, so modern, then why does it need the United States tax payers to fund nearly 10% of its existence. After all if it is the superior, gem that it is, then why does it need all this foreign aid? If it is a gem and a grand place that doesn't need foreign aid, then why does the United States tax payer have to be required to fund a foreign nation above its own, especially in times of economic crisis? After all, if Israel is the golden calf of the Middle East then surely they don't need the United States propping them up like some third world tin pot government, right?
I have a belief, which you in your contempt for Israel's economic need obviously share, that it is less a question of finance than of moral support which constitutes the core of the US/Israel relationship. Given the level of your enmity toward her, forgive me for thinking that your attitude in this context would not alter were the US to terminate its aid program to Israel tomorrow. It's not really about the money, is it?
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I don't want to tell Israel what is best for them, but I also don't want US foreign policy being formulated around Israel either.
You prefer a more even-handed approach then. Perhaps some help for Hamas in its campaign of Jewish extermination? Or for Syria, which has had such trouble lately killing American GIs in Iraq with the IEDs it manufactures and the terrorists it trains? Or Iran and its Hezbollah puppets, insinuating themselves into Lebanon, murdering its president, and taking over that country to use as a staging area for riads into Israel? Or is it Fatah which strikes your fancy, with its long and glorious history of kidnappings, hijackings, bombings, Olympic murders, and other worldwide acts of cowardly derring-do, all with the express aim of intimidating those who would offer support to the descendants of the survivors of the Holocaust in making a tiny nation out of a desolate strip of desert when they had no place else in the world to turn?
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I care about the United States of American FIRST, not Israel, not the UK not Egypt and none of those countries interest are OUR interest no matter how much someone tells you that they are. I'm all for Israel doing whatever Israel wants to do, they should have that right, but for the love of God, they will not do it at the expense of my country, the United States of America. We are not a free hand out, we are not a free ride, we have our own people to consider FIRST.
I could not agree with you more. If I did not believe that America's best interests -- maintaining our reputation for supporting our friends, for democratic nations, for standing up for what is right and for the oppressed in the face of overwhelming reservoirs of ancient hatred and prejudice -- were served by supporting Israel, I would not be as vehement in the defense of our current policy.
The time may come when the compromises engaged in by successive Israeli governments with right-wing religious fundamentalists, in order that parliamentary coalitions can be formed (for such is the nature of democracies burdened by the need to address a variety of freely-speaking and unfettered constituencies) may invalidate her claim to our unswerving moral and physical support. But that time is not here. Israel stands alone in the middle east in offering a modern and democratic model of governance and technological and social progress. She deserves our unwavering support in the face of the backward theocracies and authoritarian criminal states which surround her.
In any analysis of the world which draws a distinction between the principles of hope, progress, and a sense of moral rectitude. and the belief that one group of people can safely be scapegoated, murdered, and despised out of ancient hatreds and ignorant religious zealotry, support for Isreal and its continued existence must be a cornerstone of America's foreign policy.
This thread has been quite an interesting read. I would like to add my take on this conversation on several different fronts, because there has been much misinformation and poor analysis propagated throughout the discourse. In the interest of full disclosure, I am an American, who has lived on both sides of the country, has a BA in Political Science and an MBA in international business.
I would first like to address the issue other Americans have raised with foreign aid generally, and aid to Israel specifically. According to the OP's website, which I would encourage all of you to examine more closely, because as far as NGO's go, this one has an agenda, the US has given Israel about 85 Billon dollars as of 1997. I am curious that the OP couldn't find more current data and this leads me to believe the actual numbers aren't as important to him as making defaming comments about U.S. allies are. The total today is surely much higher, however, there is a distinct need to put this large sum of money in perspective:
Since November 2008, the U.S. government has provided more than 170 Billion dollars to AIG in the form of a no strings attached bailout. More than double the amount that the US has provided Israel with in the OP's time frame data. Moreover, over 90 billion of those funds were then distributed to foreign owned banks and institutions which held AIG liabilities. If you interpret this as US aid to foreign institutions, the amount is larger again than the amount given in the OP's time frame. The reason I bring this up is because for the largest economy in the world, the amount given over the last 60 years is pretty miniscule. Sure, the amount is a large sum, but in the grand scheme of thigs, its less than a drop in the bucket.
For those that think we should cut off aid to Israel: I am going to assume that it is not about the money, because as I just demonstrated, it really isn't all that much money. So I would like to briefly address other possible motivations. I would argue that is entirely right and just that we provide military and economic aid to Israel for the following reasons: Perhaps no group of people in the entire history of the world has been as persecuted as the Jews, which make up some 80% of the Israel population, and for which the state of Israel was created by the United Kingdom and the United Nations in the wake of WW2. (UN Partition Plan, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181). To aid them in remaining free and prosperous is the right thing to do. Furthermore, as the leader of the free and democratic world, it is incumbent upon us to actively support and protect the most free and democratic country in the middle east. As the 1947, 1967, and 1973 attacks on Israel by arab states, as well as more modern conflicts show, there are no shortage of enemies to Israel on its borders.
To address the notion that because of the economy we should eliminate all foreign aid. I find that a preposterous proposition. Foreign aid makes up such a small percentage of our GDP that it is nearly insignificant. Furthermore, though we are suffering here with the economy, others in developing countries the world over are also suffering greatly from collapse of the global economy. Foreign aid is the right and just thing to do, and you should look at is without protectionist feelings and see it for what it is, an investment in the betterment of the world. American foreign policy is not perfect, that is for sure, but one of the most enduring and positive things about it is the generousity of American aid, even when it isn't always appreciated. A better source of your scorn would be the massive waste that goes on in our own country thanks to both parties in power in the White House and Congress. The massive savings that could be gain domestically from eliminating ear marks and pork would be far more meaningful and useful than retained resources from limiting foreign aid.
Yes, US foreign policy isn't perfect, yes Israel has done some uncool things in response to being constantly under seige. But Israel does deserve our unwaivering support. I would also like to address one poster that said he didn't think Israel would just give over land to the Palestinians, in 2000 at the Camp David conference, Ehud Barak offered Yassir Arafat a Palestinian state made up of much of the land demarcated by the British Mandate, including east Jerusalem and half of the Old City (Arab and Chrstian quarters). Arafat rejected the offer. It was beneficial to Arafats power as well as the ambitions and ideologies of other Arab states for the Israel-Palestinian conflict to remain unresolved.
In closing, I would implore everyone to do a little self reflection, analyzise how your feelings to the subject matter have been formed, take into account the propganda which focuses on the construction of "the other" which we are all subject to. Then try to actually become informed of the history and return the subject matter with more clear and unbiased eyes. Neither side is entirely right, neither is entirely wrong.
The Israeli economy is not a product of American aid. It is a product of 60 years of a society and a states hard work and perseverance. Nazi's and others have often blamed and targeted the Jews for being too good at business and controlling too much money, essentially scapegoating them for other peoples ills (again a construction of the "other" and nationalism), why would you now doubt that such a people could create a thriving and enduring country and economy in a land nearly devoid of natural resources? :P
The absolute irrefutable truth!! Brilliant! Thank you!
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Originally Posted by TnHilltopper
Well our relationship and "closeness" with Israel is NOT debatable, as Israel has as its sole nation status a "special relationship" with the United States. Now I'm not making this up, this is the very wording used by the United States State Department and our relationship with Israel is very much unlike that of the UK, or Germany, or France or ANY other nation, hence the reason why the state department calls it a "special relationship".
Can you name one other country where it is against the law to boycott their products other than Israel?
Can you name one other country that has a State Department definition of hate speech to strongly disagree with US policy towards that nation or the nation directly as "hate speech"?
The same cannot be said of those nations, as while we may provide aid, we do not provide for the level of aid in which we provide Israel, the worlds 16th most wealthy nation, on par with most European nations. The US guarantees that even if we as American suffer a oil embargo, that we as Americans will be sure to provide Israel with all the oil it desires and needs. What other nation has such an agreement?
American foreign policy is a monster that provides aid to both sides, Israel and its Arab neighbors with singular and mono-polar recognition in favor of Israel. For instance, consider the following...
1. Resolution 42: The Palestine Question (5 March 1948) Requests recommendations for the Palestine Commission 2. Resolution 43: The Palestine Question (1 Apr 1948) Recognizes "increasing violence and disorder in Palestine" and requests that representatives of "the Jewish Agency for Palestine and the Arab Higher Committee" arrange, with the Security Council, "a truce between the Arab and Jewish Communities of Palestine...Calls upon Arab and Jewish armed groups in Palestine to cease acts of violence immediately." 3. Resolution 44: The Palestine Question (1 Apr 1948) Requests convocation of special session of the General Assembly 4. Resolution 46: The Palestine Question (17 Apr 1948) As the United Kingdom is the Mandatory Power, "it is responsible for the maintenance of peace and order in Palestine." The Resolutions also "Calls upon all persons and organizations in Palestine" to stop importing "armed bands and fighting personnel...whatever their origin;...weapons and war materials;...Refrain, pending the future government of Palestine...from any political activity which might prejudice the rights, claims, or position of either community;...refrain from any action which will endager the safety of the Holy Places in Palestine." 5. Resolution 48: The Palestine Question (23 Apr 1948) 6. Resolution 49: The Palestine Question (22 May 1948) 7. Resolution 50: The Palestine Question (29 May 1948) 8. Resolution 53: The Palestine Question (7 Jul 1948) 9. Resolution 54: The Palestine Question (15 Jul 1948) 10. Resolution 56: The Palestine Question (19 Aug 1948) 11. Resolution 57: The Palestine Question (18 Sep 1948) 12. Resolution 59: The Palestine Question (19 Oct 1948) 13. Resolution 60: The Palestine Question (29 Oct 1948) 14. Resolution 61: The Palestine Question (4 Nov 1948) 15. Resolution 62: The Palestine Question (16 Nov 1948) 16. Resolution 66: The Palestine Question (29 Dec 1948) 17. Resolution 72: The Palestine Question (11 Aug 1949) 18. Resolution 73: The Palestine Question (11 Aug 1949) 19. Resolution 89 (17 November 1950): regarding Armistice in 1948 Arab-Israeli War and "transfer of persons". 20. Resolution 92: The Palestine Question (8 May 1951) 21. Resolution 93: The Palestine Question (18 May 1951) 22. Resolution 95: The Palestine Question (1 Sep 1951) 23. Resolution 100: The Palestine Question (27 Oct 1953) 24. Resolution 101: The Palestine Question (24 Nov 1953) 25. Resolution 106: The Palestine Question (29 Mar 1955) 'condemns' Israel for Gaza raid. 26. Resolution 107: The Palestine Question (30 Mar) 27. Resolution 108: The Palestine Question (8 Sep) 28. Resolution 111: " ... 'condemns' Israel for raid on Syria that killed fifty-six people". 29. Resolution 127: " ... 'recommends' Israel suspends its 'no-man's zone' in Jerusalem". 30. Resolution 162: " ... 'urges' Israel to comply with UN decisions". 31. Resolution 171: " ... determines flagrant violations' by Israel in its attack on Syria". 32. Resolution 228: " ... 'censures' Israel for its attack on Samu in the West Bank, then under Jordanian control". 33. Resolution 237: " ... 'urges' Israel to allow return of new 1967 Palestinian refugees". 34. Resolution 242 (November 22, 1967): Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area. Calls on Israel's neighbors to end the state of belligerency and calls upon Israel to reciprocate by withdraw its forces from land claimed by other parties in 1967 war. Interpreted commonly today as calling for the Land for peace principle as a way to resolve Arab-Israeli conflict 35. Resolution 248: " ... 'condemns' Israel for its massive attack on Karameh in Jordan". 36. Resolution 250: " ... 'calls' on Israel to refrain from holding military parade in Jerusalem". 37. Resolution 251: " ... 'deeply deplores' Israeli military parade in Jerusalem in defiance of Resolution 250". 38. Resolution 252: " ... 'declares invalid' Israel's acts to unify Jerusalem as Jewish capital". 39. Resolution 256: " ... 'condemns' Israeli raids on Jordan as 'flagrant violation". 40. Resolution 259: " ... 'deplores' Israel's refusal to accept UN mission to probe occupation". 41. Resolution 262: " ... 'condemns' Israel for attack on Beirut airport". 42. Resolution 265: " ... 'condemns' Israel for air attacks for Salt in Jordan". 43. Resolution 267: " ... 'censures' Israel for administrative acts to change the status of Jerusalem". 44. Resolution 270: " ... 'condemns' Israel for air attacks on villages in southern Lebanon". 45. Resolution 271: " ... 'condemns' Israel's failure to obey UN resolutions on Jerusalem". 46. Resolution 279: " ... 'demands' withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon". 47. Resolution 280: " ... 'condemns' Israeli's attacks against Lebanon". 48. Resolution 285: " ... 'demands' immediate Israeli withdrawal form Lebanon". 49. Resolution 298: " ... 'deplores' Israel's changing of the status of Jerusalem". 50. Resolution 313: " ... 'demands' that Israel stop attacks against Lebanon". 51. Resolution 316: " ... 'condemns' Israel for repeated attacks on Lebanon". 52. Resolution 317: " ... 'deplores' Israel's refusal to release Arabs abducted in Lebanon". 53. Resolution 332: " ... 'condemns' Israel's repeated attacks against Lebanon". 54. Resolution 337: " ... 'condemns' Israel for violating Lebanon's sovereignty". 55. Resolution 338 (22 October 1973): cease fire in Yom Kippur War 56. Resolution 339 (23 October 1973): Confirms Res. 338, dispatch UN observers. 57. Resolution 347: " ... 'condemns' Israeli attacks on Lebanon". 58. Resolution 425 (1978): " ... 'calls' on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon". Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon was completed as of 16 June 2000. 59. Resolution 350 (31 May 1974) established the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Syria in the wake of the Yom Kippur War. 60. Resolution 427: " ... 'calls' on Israel to complete its withdrawal from Lebanon". 61. Resolution 444: " ... 'deplores' Israel's lack of cooperation with UN peacekeeping forces". 62. Resolution 446 (1979): 'determines' that Israeli settlements are a 'serious obstruction' to peace and calls on Israel to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention". 63. Resolution 450: " ... 'calls' on Israel to stop attacking Lebanon". 64. Resolution 452: " ... 'calls' on Israel to cease building settlements in occupied territories". 65. Resolution 465: " ... 'deplores' Israel's settlements and asks all member states not to assist Israel's settlements program". 66. Resolution 467: " ... 'strongly deplores' Israel's military intervention in Lebanon". 67. Resolution 468: " ... 'calls' on Israel to rescind illegal expulsions of two Palestinian mayors and a judge and to facilitate their return". 68. Resolution 469: " ... 'strongly deplores' Israel's failure to observe the council's order not to deport Palestinians". 69. Resolution 471: " ... 'expresses deep concern' at Israel's failure to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention". 70. Resolution 476: " ... 'reiterates' that Israel's claim to Jerusalem are 'null and void'". 71. Resolution 478 (20 August 1980): 'censures (Israel) in the strongest terms' for its claim to Jerusalem in its 'Basic Law'. 72. Resolution 484: " ... 'declares it imperative' that Israel re-admit two deported Palestinian mayors". 73. Resolution 487: " ... 'strongly condemns' Israel for its attack on Iraq's nuclear facility". 74. Resolution 497 (17 December 1981) decides that Israel's annexation of Syria's Golan Heights is 'null and void' and demands that Israel rescinds its decision forthwith. 75. Resolution 498: " ... 'calls' on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon". 76. Resolution 501: " ... 'calls' on Israel to stop attacks against Lebanon and withdraw its troops". 77. Resolution 508: 78. Resolution 509: " ... 'demands' that Israel withdraw its forces forthwith and unconditionally from Lebanon". 79. Resolution 515: " ... 'demands' that Israel lift its siege of Beirut and allow food supplies to be brought in". 80. Resolution 517: " ... 'censures' Israel for failing to obey UN resolutions and demands that Israel withdraw its forces from Lebanon". 81. Resolution 518: " ... 'demands' that Israel cooperate fully with UN forces in Lebanon". 82. Resolution 520: " ... 'condemns' Israel's attack into West Beirut". 83. Resolution 573: " ... 'condemns' Israel 'vigorously' for bombing Tunisia in attack on PLO headquarters. 84. Resolution 587 " ... 'takes note' of previous calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and urges all parties to withdraw". 85. Resolution 592: " ... 'strongly deplores' the killing of Palestinian students at Bir Zeit University by Israeli troops". 86. Resolution 605: " ... 'strongly deplores' Israel's policies and practices denying the human rights of Palestinians. 87. Resolution 607: " ... 'calls' on Israel not to deport Palestinians and strongly requests it to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention. 88. Resolution 608: " ... 'deeply regrets' that Israel has defied the United Nations and deported Palestinian civilians". 89. Resolution 636: " ... 'deeply regrets' Israeli deportation of Palestinian civilians. 90. Resolution 641: " ... 'deplores' Israel's continuing deportation of Palestinians. 91. Resolution 672: " ... 'condemns' Israel for "violence against Palestinians" at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. 92. Resolution 673: " ... 'deplores' Israel's refusal to cooperate with the United Nations. 93. Resolution 681: " ... 'deplores' Israel's resumption of the deportation of Palestinians. 94. Resolution 694: " ... 'deplores' Israel's deportation of Palestinians and calls on it to ensure their safe and immediate return. 95. Resolution 726: " ... 'strongly condemns' Israel's deportation of Palestinians. 96. Resolution 799: ". . . 'strongly condemns' Israel's deportation of 413 Palestinians and calls for their immediate return. 97. Resolution 1559 (2 September 2004) called upon Lebanon to establish its sovereignty over all of its land and called upon Syria to end their military presence in Lebanon by withdrawing its forces and to cease intervening in internal Lebanese politics. The resolution also called on all Lebanese militias to disband. 98. Resolution 1583 (28 January 2005) calls on Lebanon to assert full control over its border with Israel. It also states that "the Council has recognized the Blue Line as valid for the purpose of confirming Israel's withdrawal pursuant to resolution 425. 99. Resolution 1648 (21 December 2005) renewed the mandate of United Nations Disengagement Observer Force until 30 June 2006. 100. Resolution 1701 (11 August 2006) called for the full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. 101. Resolution 1860 (9 January 2009) called for the full cessation of war between Israel and Hamas.
Now out of those many UN resolutions, how many did the United States veto? I have the number in case you are interested because it is essentially all of them.
So, why is it that the United States goes to war over a SINGLE UN resolution with Iraq, yet forgives the countless UN resolutions against Israel?
If the UN is biased in favor against Israel then one might wonder why it favored the resolution against Iraq, but then again we know the difference between a strong arm and a evidence.
Ok, if Israel isn't the "would, coulda, shoulda" weasal type then why do they accept US hand outs like a beggar on the street looking for a crack fix?
If Israel is so progressive, so strong, so modern, then why does it need the United States tax payers to fund nearly 10% of its existence. After all if it is the superior, gem that it is, then why does it need all this foreign aid? If it is a gem and a grand place that doesn't need foreign aid, then why does the United States tax payer have to be required to fund a foreign nation above its own, especially in times of economic crisis? After all, if Israel is the golden calf of the Middle East then surely they don't need the United States propping them up like some third world tin pot government, right?
Israel is powerful because it kicks ass and takes names. Every time.
Israel I so love... it is welcome to pursue whatever interests it sees fit. If Israel wants to harvest rainbows and sunshine, then rock on... congratulations, I'm happy for them. If Israel wants to slaughter its neighbors which it sees as enemies, then oh be to joy, good for them, they are welcome to do as they see fit for their own interest. I don't want to tell Israel what is best for them, but I also don't want US foreign policy being formulated around Israel either.
I care about the United States of American FIRST, not Israel, not the UK not Egypt and none of those countries interest are OUR interest no matter how much someone tells you that they are. I'm all for Israel doing whatever Israel wants to do, they should have that right, but for the love of God, they will not do it at the expense of my country, the United States of America. We are not a free hand out, we are not a free ride, we have our own people to consider FIRST.
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