I see it as a way for them to get as much as possible from the United States. Israelis themselves seem to show little enthusiasm for spending more on defense. A February poll by the Israeli Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies showed just 28 percent of Israelis willing to pay higher taxes for more security. In addition, last year, U.S. officials warned Israeli leaders that proposed defense cuts in Israel would make it harder to ask for more U.S. aid. But, the army is still a popular and nearly omnipresent part of Israeli life.
Service is compulsory for most men and women.
Memorial Day affords a solemn moment each spring, when sirens bring the nation to a halt and motorists pull over to stand by their cars in silence. Given that sense of pride, it's hard to find detractors of the army. When you're talking about American money, nobody wants to ask the questions. This material shall not be published or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.