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> Israel on the other hand is funded by the US government, especially its military. Israel spent $23.4b on it's military vs $3.3b from the US. And the Israeli

by ars 3y ago

> Israel on the other hand is funded by the US government, especially its military. Israel spent $23.4b on it's military vs $3.3b from the US. And the Israeli economy is $522B making the US "funding of Israel" 0.6% of their economy. That's hardly "funded by the US government". And on top of that the US is "funding" Israel in return for technology, so it's more a purchase by the US than anything else.

mcpackieh 3y ago
3.3 billion dollars is a substantial sum of money. If it's as insubstantial as you claim, can I then safely surmise that discontinuing that funding would be a political nothingburger? Would American zionist politicians shrug and say it doesn't matter if we don't give Israel that 3.3 billion, or would they cry and scream about it? Probably the latter. And Israeli politicians, would they shrug and say it doesn't matter, or would they echo their American counterparts? I think the latter.
- davidf18 3y ago
  [dead]
- ars 3y ago
  They US gets a lot in return for their funding, it's not a one way deal at all. So you need to take into account what the US would lose. It's far more complex than your shallow "cry and scream".
  - mcpackieh 3y ago
    You mean like getting "the only democracy in the region" to be our ally in supporting America's wars in the region? This is the most often touted "benefit" but to say this actually has value to the average American is farcical. Most of America's support for Israel is rooted in religion and ideology, not any tangible benefits to America.
jamilton 3y ago
https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-israel-2/ https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-israel-2/ >The U.S.-Israel economic and commercial relationship is strong, anchored by an annual bilateral trade of nearly $50 billion in goods and services. Several treaties and agreements, including the 1985 U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), solidify bilateral economic relations. Since the FTA’s signing in 1985, the United States has become Israel’s largest trading partner. I think it's fair to say that the US has strong connections to Israel. I don't know if it's fair to imply it's totally dependent on the US as they implied, but I think it's more complex than the aid being a small percentage of the GDP.

by ars 3y ago

mcpackieh 3y ago

3.3 billion dollars is a substantial sum of money. If it's as insubstantial as you claim, can I then safely surmise that discontinuing that funding would be a political nothingburger? Would American zionist politicians shrug and say it doesn't matter if we don't give Israel that 3.3 billion, or would they cry and scream about it? Probably the latter. And Israeli politicians, would they shrug and say it doesn't matter, or would they echo their American counterparts? I think the latter.

davidf18 3y ago
[dead]
ars 3y ago
They US gets a lot in return for their funding, it's not a one way deal at all. So you need to take into account what the US would lose. It's far more complex than your shallow "cry and scream".
- mcpackieh 3y ago
  You mean like getting "the only democracy in the region" to be our ally in supporting America's wars in the region? This is the most often touted "benefit" but to say this actually has value to the average American is farcical. Most of America's support for Israel is rooted in religion and ideology, not any tangible benefits to America.

jamilton 3y ago

https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-israel-2/ https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-israel-2/ >The U.S.-Israel economic and commercial relationship is strong, anchored by an annual bilateral trade of nearly $50 billion in goods and services. Several treaties and agreements, including the 1985 U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), solidify bilateral economic relations. Since the FTA’s signing in 1985, the United States has become Israel’s largest trading partner. I think it's fair to say that the US has strong connections to Israel. I don't know if it's fair to imply it's totally dependent on the US as they implied, but I think it's more complex than the aid being a small percentage of the GDP.