Deputy FM: Israel will increase aid to S. America in return for support

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Ynet News

Deputy FM: Israel will increase aid to S. America in return for support
Published: 02.24.10, 10:25 / Israel News

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said "Israel intends to increase the aid it sends to South American and Latin American states, but in return it expects support from them in the UN."

Speaking at a conference of the heads of Latin American Jewish communities in Jerusalem, Ayalon called on those present to "stop the Iranian advance into South American states."



Read more: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3853832,00.ht...

[maddezmom]

1. Both Iran and Israel have been searching the globe for supporters

http://www.economist.com/world/middle-east/displaystory...

[JohnyCanuck]

2. Hey USA, Israel sure is generous with your money.

If they can afford to go around passing off aid to other countries to bribe them for their support, maybe they no longer need to be the single largest recipient of foreign aid from the USA.

“Since the October War in 1973, Washington has provided Israel with a level of support dwarfing the amounts provided to any other state. It has been the largest annual recipient of direct U.S. economic and military assistance since 1976 and the largest total recipient since World War ll. Total direct U.S. aid to Israel amounts to well over $140 billion in 2003 dollars. Israel receives about $3 billion in direct foreign assistance each year, which is roughly one-fifth of America's entire foreign aid budget. In per capita terms, the United States gives each Israeli a direct subsidy worth about $500 per year. This largesse is especially striking when one realizes that Israel is now a wealthy industrial state with a per capita income roughly equal to South Korea or Spain.”

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stats/usaid.html

[Vinnie From Indy]

3. How many BILLION a year does the USA give Israel?

five or six?

What a sham!

[shergald]

8. At least six billion. In addition to the three we give normally, Congress approved another 3 billion

yearly in military aid. So Israel can now take that money and give it to their own people. That comes to about a thousand dollars per individual Israeli, right?

And here in the USA, we have double digit unemployment.

[ezmerelda39]

4. Really?

If Israel has money to spare to buy votes in South America and Latin America why is it necessary for the United States to send aid to Israel? What are we buying with our money?

[Tempest]

5. Extortion is legal in Israel?

I thought only 3rd world countries under despotic regimes engaged in open extortion and blackmail.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Where isn't it in terms of foreign policy/foreign aid?

If it weren't, then the poorest countries of the world would be getting a far larger slice of the available aid from everyone (and among much else perhaps this would reduce the power and number of the despotic regimes that you mention).

All countries that have the resources use aid money bribe other countries for their support in one way or another. What do you think all the American aid to Israel is for?! Just out of the kindness of the American government's heart?

[shergald]

7. Let me get this straight. We are giving Israel 6 billion dollars in aid, and now they...

want to give it to some South American countries if they will support Israel, is that right?

We are so fucked up as a country that we must consider ourselves just stupid.

[shira]

9. For those who believe the USA just throws money away at Israel...

A two way street...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

"According to Senator Daniel Inouye, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Defense and a veteran of the Intelligence Committee, "Israel's contribution to US military intelligence is greater than all NATO countries combined."

<snip>

Former Secretary of State, General Alexander Haig, a former Supreme Commander of NATO, refers to Israel as "the largest, most battle-tested and cost-effective US aircraft carrier, which does not require a single US personnel, cannot be sunk and is located at a most critical area for US national security interests." If Israel did not exist in the eastern flank of the Mediterranean - adjacent to most critical oil resources and water lanes, in the intersection of Europe, Asia and Africa - the US would have to deploy a few aircraft carriers to the region, along with tens of thousands of military personnel, costing scores of billions of dollars annually and risking involvement in additional regional and international confrontations. The Jewish State constitutes a battle-proven laboratory, which has improved thousands of US-made military systems and technologies, sharing with the US such improvements, thus enhancing the competitive edge of the US defense industries, expanding US employment and export base, upgrading US national security and saving many US lives and mega billion of dollars in terms of research and development cost. For instance, the current generation of the F-16 includes over 600 modifications introduced by Israel."

[bemildred]

10. Mr Ayalon ought to at least try to be more subtle.

Phrasing it as a straight money for votes exchange is bound to attract negative attention.

[LeftishBrit]

11. I don't think the words 'Ayalon' and 'subtle' have ever belonged in the same sentence.

[bemildred]

12. True.

But it is still a weakness.