From: bf3833@pyuxe.uucp (80010-feigenbaum)
Subject: Re: israel as asset
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Distribution: talk
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 22:49:19 GMT
Summary: Real reason for US Aid to Israel

In article <1993Jan9.1777.22329@channel1>, "wayne mcguire" <wayne.mcguire@channel1.com> writes:
> To: Michael Silverman
> 
>  MS> Perhaps if Israel had the world's largest petroleum
>  MS> reserves, it too could pay its own way!
> 
> Most nations around the world lack petroleum reserves, but they
> don't demand that the U.S. provide them aid at the rate of nearly
> $1,000 per citizen per annum. They find creative ways to build
> their economy on other bases.
> 
> There are two (among many) reasons why the level of U.S. aid to
> Israel is so disturbing:
> 
> 1. One can easily understand why Israel would need extraordinary
> levels of aid at its beginning, when it was trying to get on its
> feet. I don't begrudge that aid in the least. But Israel is now
> almost 50 years old. Instead of growing more independent and
> self-sufficient it is becoming more dependent on American aid,
> not less. People are beginning to wonder if Israel will ever be
> able to stand on its two feet and if the Zionist experiment
> overall is a failure.
r>
Wayne,

Even you must realize that US aid to Israel didn't start in 1948.
At that point in time, the US had an arms embargo against the 
fledgling Jewish state.  Yet somehow, Israel managed to defeat 
the combined Arab armies.  Not only without US help, but in 
spite of the embargo.


 
> 2. While receiving so much American aid Israelis are receiving
> more social services than Americans. Americans are subsidizing
> social services for Israelis that they don't subsidize for
> themselves. That is an outrageous state of affairs. This is the
> kind of situation which could stimulate the sort of anti-Semitism
> which some users here already think is latent in the human race
> anyway. I don't think it is wise for Israel to be seen by the
> world to be receiving special privileges over any other group in
> our society. The perception of special privileges for Israel will
> ultimately lead to the reality of special resentment against
> Israel.
> 
> If Diaspora Zionists had their act together they'd stop lobbying
> for the billions in aid, and instead start lobbying to decrease
> or eliminate the aid with the object of winning Israel's true
> independence. But they do not have their act together, nor are
> they able to think in original and independent ways about matters
> concerning the state of Israel.
r

Here you are more correct.  All those concerned about the future 
of Israel should do whatever they can to eliminate US aid to Israel
as soon as possible.  This will accomplish a number of things:

1.  People like Wayne will have to find another reason to bash 
    Israel (and I'm willing to bet that you'll find another
    reason real quickly - right Wayne?).
2.  It will cause the fall of the Rabin government - most likely 
    to be replaced by one which will recognize that Israel's image
    or "public relations" is truly unimportant, and will act to
   protect Jewish lives regardless of what the rest of the world 
    thinks.
3.  Israel will finally be free from the shackles of US policy.
> ---
>  ~ OLX 3.01 31-2557 ~ true blue light
> --
> Channel 1 (R)   Cambridge, MA
> 
  US aid to Israel really began in 1973.  Richard Nixon was prepared
  to do nothing to help the Jewish state until Golda Meir called 
  him up and warned him about the consequences of an Arab victory.
  Simply put, Golda realized that if the Arabs won a war, all the
  Jews would be slaughtered.  She was prepared to use every weapon
  at Israel's disposal to prevent that.  And she let Nixon know it.

  President Nixon was fearful that, if Golda won the war using 
  unconventional methods, there would be no more oil for America.
  So he started the huge amounts of aid.

  You know Wayne, you are probably right in your appraisal of American
  opinions about Israel.  So much the worse for America.  But then
  citizenry which allows itself to
  have a choice between Clinton, Bush and Perot is not too bright anyway.

  But tell me something Wayne:  Once you have achieved your goal of
  cutting off Israel, what are your' plans for American supporters of
  Israel?  What would you like to do to us, Wayne?  And what would 
  you do if, after US aid to Israel was cut off, she still managed 
  to win a war against the Arabs?  Would you want the US to attack
  Isreal?  Maybe UN sanctions first?

  Americans like you need to wake up.  You need to find out why 
  Israel has survived all these years despite having all the Arab
  states (and much of the world) alligned against her.  When you
  figure out the real reason for Israel's survival, then maybe
  you will be able to discuss the US/Israel relationship from 
  a less hostile perspective.

  Just some food for thought.

  Ben Feigenbaum

Xref: sparky talk.politics.mideast:24693 soc.culture.greek:12048