United States needs to reevaluate its assistance to Israel

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"As the country reviews its spending on defense and foreign assistance, it is time to examine the funding the United States provides to Israel.

Let me put it another way: Nine days ago, the Israeli cabinet reacted to months of demonstrations against the high cost of living there and agreed to raise taxes on corporations and people with high incomes ($130,000 a year). It also approved cutting more than $850 million, or about 5 percent, from its roughly $16 billion defense budget in each of the next two years.

If Israel can reduce its defense spending because of its domestic economic problems, shouldn’t the United States — which must cut military costs because of its major budget deficit — consider reducing its aid to Israel?

First, a review of what the American taxpayer provides to Israel."

more

[aranthus]

1. Good job of ignoring context.

Don't you think it's interesting that in an article devoted to cutting aid to Israel that there isn't a single mention of the aid we provide to Egypt, Jordan, and other Middle Eastern States? Do you think that's just a coincidence? Myself, I'd be happy if the US ended its military assistance to all the states in the region. But this author just wants to stop aid to Israel. Why do you think that is?

[shira]

3. True. The US sends more $$$ to Pakistan, Egypt, and Jordan combined....

....and gets less in return for doing so.

However, the US should cut aid to Israel.

:eyes:

[Scurrilous]

2. Washington Post Columnist: Cut Aid to Israel

<snip>

"For the first time in memory, if not ever, a highly respected mainstream columnist is calling on the United States to cut aid to Israel.

Writing in the Washington Post, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and columnist Walter Pincus says "it is time to examine the funding the United States provides to Israel."

Aid to Israel is virtually the only program, domestic or foreign, that is exempt from every budget cutting proposal pending in Congress. No matter that our own military is facing major cuts along with Medicare, cancer research and hundreds of other programs, Israel's friends in Congress in both parties make sure that aid to Israel is protected at current levels."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mj-rosenberg/us-israel-funding_b_1017556.html

[azurnoir]

4. Israel may be facing budget cuts of its own

add that to a looming election year and well it would not surprise me if congress votes to increase aid to Israel especially if Israel has to cut its defense budget

[oberliner]

5. An article about the article?

Weird.

[Jefferson23]

6. Walter Pincus, well done. n/t