4 ms·

Well, they regularly sell US secrets to China, so I don't think they really give two shits about "hurting the US." Examples: https://www.independent.co.uk/new

Well, they regularly sell US secrets to China, so I don't think they really give two shits about "hurting the US." Examples: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/israel-accused-of-selling-us-secrets-to-china-1510406.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/israel-accused-of-s... https://www.military.com/defensetech/2013/12/24/report-israel-passes-u-s-military-technology-to-china https://www.military.com/defensetech/2013/12/24/report-israe... I could be wrong! Maybe selling US secrets to china is to ensure the USA is still on their side? I'm not a politician; it's above my paygrade. Somehow other US allies don't have these sorts of "hey let's spy on our friends" impulses. FWIIW the US just had an all-hands freak out over Russia spending a few grand on FB ads during the last presidential election; I'm pretty sure if it ever got out what the Israelis are doing out in the open to influence US elections (such as attempting to kick Israel critic politicians out of office), that would do even more harm to US-Israel relations than any single politician could. I also think they can do just fine without US support. They have Jericho missiles capable of reaching LA. Technically this makes all US financial support of Israel illegal. I mean why would they risk all that needed support and build nukes capable of blowing up the US?

jdsully 7y ago
Your first link doesn't say they sold US secrets, just technology US firms weren't allowed to provide. They have an extensive domestic tech industry and due to their history quite a large defense industry as well. The second link is as advertised though - however the person responsible did resign (assuming it wasn't some broader conspiracy).
- scottlocklin 7y ago
  Actually the first link says " the Israeli exports include military technology developed by the US, and which Washington expressly forbids from being exported to China." Arguably the only reason they have a large defense industry is the billions of dollars the US gives them to subsidize it. Yet somehow those billions are never at risk when they do shady things like this. I could probably dig up a half dozen examples of this; I try not to pay attention to politics, but I am old and every time I hear this story again I figure we couldn't possibly have any secrets left for the Israelis to sell to China. Heres one: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/175404 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/175404 Moar examples: https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2014/06/06/how-israel-has-betrayed-america/ https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2014/06/06/how-israel-h... Denying this is kind of like denying the sky is blue.
  - sgregnt 7y ago
    Your are clearly biased against Israel denaying this is like denaying the sky is blue. Try running google search on <Britain> exporting military technology hurts USA, substitute Britain with any other country. You'll be surprised. There are certain people who would just jump on any opportunity to paint Israel in a bad light and exaggerate any negative news. Many of your sources quoted in your first post are blatantly against Israel. Please, don't turn Hacker news into a platform promoting a certain political sentements.
    - coldtea 7y ago
      >Your are clearly biased against Israel denaying this is like denaying the sky is blue. Oh, the irony
wahern 7y ago
> I'm pretty sure if it ever got out what the Israelis are doing out in the open to influence US elections (such as attempting to kick Israel critic politicians out of office), that would do even more harm to US-Israel relations than any single politician could. If they do it out in the open? Netanyahu openly snubbed Obama on various occasions and very publicly sided with conservatives. And with Trump he basically flaunts his partisanship. More importantly, there's a whole subculture in D.C. of Israeli and pro-Israel lobbyists which over the past couple of decades have become quite partisan. It's all out in the open, it's just very difficult to articulate because of anxieties over anti-semitism. Similarly, but more positively, as I remember it Ariel Sharon quietly (but not secretly) came out against the Iraq War--not the bombing, just that he foresaw chaos from invasion and an attempt at nation building--and made this known to various politicians and leaders in Washington, including President Bush. Though, according to Wikipedia Sharon was far more equivocal and his opinions weren't made known publicly until years later. (Can't be bothered to confirm the accuracy of my memory.)
leephillips 7y ago
'Somehow other US allies don't have these sorts of "hey let's spy on our friends" impulses' Pretty much any US ally with a functional intelligence capability spies on the US. And we spy on all of them. And it's not always for traditional diplomatic or political purposes. Some governments, such as France's, have a tradition of aggressive espionage to get a commercial advantage for domestic corporations.

jdsully 7y ago

Your first link doesn't say they sold US secrets, just technology US firms weren't allowed to provide. They have an extensive domestic tech industry and due to their history quite a large defense industry as well. The second link is as advertised though - however the person responsible did resign (assuming it wasn't some broader conspiracy).

scottlocklin 7y ago
Actually the first link says " the Israeli exports include military technology developed by the US, and which Washington expressly forbids from being exported to China." Arguably the only reason they have a large defense industry is the billions of dollars the US gives them to subsidize it. Yet somehow those billions are never at risk when they do shady things like this. I could probably dig up a half dozen examples of this; I try not to pay attention to politics, but I am old and every time I hear this story again I figure we couldn't possibly have any secrets left for the Israelis to sell to China. Heres one: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/175404 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/175404 Moar examples: https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2014/06/06/how-israel-has-betrayed-america/ https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2014/06/06/how-israel-h... Denying this is kind of like denying the sky is blue.
- sgregnt 7y ago
  Your are clearly biased against Israel denaying this is like denaying the sky is blue. Try running google search on <Britain> exporting military technology hurts USA, substitute Britain with any other country. You'll be surprised. There are certain people who would just jump on any opportunity to paint Israel in a bad light and exaggerate any negative news. Many of your sources quoted in your first post are blatantly against Israel. Please, don't turn Hacker news into a platform promoting a certain political sentements.
  - coldtea 7y ago
    >Your are clearly biased against Israel denaying this is like denaying the sky is blue. Oh, the irony

wahern 7y ago

> I'm pretty sure if it ever got out what the Israelis are doing out in the open to influence US elections (such as attempting to kick Israel critic politicians out of office), that would do even more harm to US-Israel relations than any single politician could. If they do it out in the open? Netanyahu openly snubbed Obama on various occasions and very publicly sided with conservatives. And with Trump he basically flaunts his partisanship. More importantly, there's a whole subculture in D.C. of Israeli and pro-Israel lobbyists which over the past couple of decades have become quite partisan. It's all out in the open, it's just very difficult to articulate because of anxieties over anti-semitism. Similarly, but more positively, as I remember it Ariel Sharon quietly (but not secretly) came out against the Iraq War--not the bombing, just that he foresaw chaos from invasion and an attempt at nation building--and made this known to various politicians and leaders in Washington, including President Bush. Though, according to Wikipedia Sharon was far more equivocal and his opinions weren't made known publicly until years later. (Can't be bothered to confirm the accuracy of my memory.)

leephillips 7y ago

'Somehow other US allies don't have these sorts of "hey let's spy on our friends" impulses' Pretty much any US ally with a functional intelligence capability spies on the US. And we spy on all of them. And it's not always for traditional diplomatic or political purposes. Some governments, such as France's, have a tradition of aggressive espionage to get a commercial advantage for domestic corporations.