Does Israel Need America?
Israel Must Tell America NO! Then let the chips fall wherever they fall. America is no real dependable friend to Israel and we can not only survive without America, we will thrive. Yamit
Ask the average Jew on the street and he’ll tell you: Israel needs America in order to survive. Indeed, this view is so entrenched in the Jewish community that few dare question it. Just as a baby needs his mother and an injured person needs his crutches, it seems obvious to many that Israel needs America.
But is this widely-held view true? What would happen if, as a result of Israel’s refusal to acquiesce in American demands for a Palestinian state and West Bank settlement freeze, America terminated its special relationship with Israel and cut off all monetary aid?
To be sure, this scenario is highly unlikely as America would be loath to end its friendship with the only democracy, and the most powerful country, in the Middle East. In addition to being America’s sole dependable ally in the region, Israel also provides the U.S. with vital and reliable intelligence information as well as the expertise of its advanced technology sector, among other benefits.
Supposing, however, America disregarded these concerns and “dropped” Israel – what would happen then?
Let’s review the facts: America provides approximately three billion dollars to Israel annually while Israeli government revenues amount to roughly 60 billion dollars. In other words, American aid to Israel represents five percent of its revenue. That’s it – just five percent. Why most Jews assume Israel would collapse with a five percent loss in revenue is beyond me.
Next fact: Believe it or not, Israel actually survived its first 25 years of independence and won its two greatest wars – the War of Independence and Six-Day War – without America’s help. Israel only started receiving significant American funding after the Yom Kippur War. If a fledgling Israel survived from 1948-1973 without American aid, it can surely do so in 2009 with a military that ranks among the world’s best.
Next fact: Contrary to what some people assume, countries can and do survive without American aid, or even friendship. Iran carries on. So does North Korea. It’s hard to imagine that the Jewish state – home to a people that has won 25 percent of all Nobel Prizes ever awarded – could not survive without America’s assistance.
Even if one argues that Israel requires powerful allies in these dangerous times, America is not the only formidable global player. China is an emerging military world power, India contains one of the fastest growing economies, and Russia still retains some of its Cold War prowess.
Alliances with China, India, and Russia would arguably be just as advantageous, if not more so, to Israel’s strategic needs as its alliance with America. (Incidentally, the very possibility of Israeli cooperation with countries like China and Russia would worry America sufficiently enough to cause it to think twice before cutting its ties with Israel.)
To be sure, China and Russia are not the “nicest” or most enlightened countries, but allies needn’t be best friends; history records more than one instance where strange bedfellows found common cause.
For example, in 1948, as Israel fought for its survival, the state that came to its aid and helped it prevail over attacking Arab armies was the Soviet Union under the leadership of that great humanitarian Joseph Stalin. Yes, for reasons of his own, Stalin allowed Israel to purchase vital weaponry from Czechoslovakia, which was a Soviet satellite state. Many years later Yitzhak Rabin said, “Without the arms from Czechoslovakia it is very doubtful whether we would have been able to conduct the war.”
Last fact: As anyone who takes the Bible seriously knows, the fates of peoples and countries do not ultimately rest on political realities alone. Rather they rest on God Himself, who rewards countries that do his will and punishes those that don’t. Countries may place much stock in alliances, but God has a master plan of His own and it behooves people – especially the nation of Israel – to keep this basic religious concept in mind.
I love America. I love American ideals, I love American history. But if America demands that Israel relinquish biblical territory, refrain from responding to the murder of its citizens, or cease building in the West Bank, Israel’s reply should be “No.” And if aid is thereby cut off (unlikely but possible), so be it. Protecting its people and borders is Israel’s moral obligation. Maintaining close relations with America is not.
Israel will not collapse without America as an ally. It can survive on its own or form alliances with other countries. But at the end of the day people must realize Israel’s best ally is not America, nor potentially China, India, or Russia. It is the God of Israel, the God who directs the affairs of men – and it would do Israel well to satisfy Him first.
Elliot Resnick is a staff reporter for The Jewish Press.
Agreed that we need to trust and rely upon Hashem only. This is the only alliance that is needed.
Yonii
Yonii, that agreement with Hashem was declared null and void in the gas ovens of Europe-Aushwitz, Dachau- 1939- 1940.
Yes Israel can live without America-but the same can be said for my imaginery Corporation which can survive without comprehensive insurance- that is until the corporation experiences a catastrophic event such as a massive fire or the like.
Yes Israel can live without America but how many Israelis are there that want to?
The agreement with Hashem is non-cancelable. Other catastrophic things have happened to us in the past, just as other great things have. Doesn’t change a thing. AND yes, there are other Israelis that would welcome distancing ourselves from America.
The tricky part is trying to align with both Russia and China because of the way they align with India and Pakistan. Israel does not need America for the military aid. It is the dilemma of most small countries, small in size and/or population, to need a permanent member of the UN Security Council as a reliable vote, and to keep the EU from their leftwing anti-Zionism.
Best bet is to get all those scientists working overtime to find a way to turn something into oil. Then no one will care about the Muslims.
There are really TWO distinct Americas. The GOOD America of the American people and most of congress which supports Israel despite a hostile media. And the BAD America of the State Department, the CIA, most Administrations and other non-elected officials. I wish that Israel would begin distancing herself from the BAD America step by step while maintaining and improving relations with the GOOD America. A neglected action would be for Israel to educate Americans to the many actions that Israel has done over the decades to help America such as helping to win the cold war. Even American Jews are not aware of the extent of Israeli help.
Wanna play assumption games? OK.
That agreement with Hashem was declared null and void in the abandonment from Judaism of a vast proportion of the Jewish people, beginning with the Enlightenment and as followed through by the Reform, Reconstructionist and Conservative movements, as well as way too many desecration of Hashem’s name by those who are nevertheless members of Torah observant society.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.”
– Rita Mae Brown (with apologies to Yamit)
Bert no one and certainly not me is advocating a total break in relations with America. What the author here and I am advocating is to separate Israeli interests and dependence from and on America. To behave and act like a sovereign Jewish State that has it’s own purpose, agenda and interests which are in most things not the same as Americas.
Most Americans are not negative to Israel but neither are we important to them or high on their personal agendas. Most are not only ignorant as to what is going down in America, but certainly even more so with regards to the rest of the world, certainly Israel and the ME!
Congress pays lip service at best to being pro Israel but approves funding for our most implacable and existential enemies,, to better kill Jews here and support all of our external enemies with the exception of Syria with massive sales in weapons and armaments also to better kill Jews and to ensure Israel maintains a dependency on America. If you were to be honest and really look at the congress you will see that they have nothing to lose by making pro Israel statements which may be soothing balms to the ears of naive American Jews and Israeli moronic elites but in fact their support when it comes down to reality is quite hollow. They support de-facto or dejure our enemies no less just with less rhetoric.
Saying no to America and refusing all American free aid(sic, nothing is free)today, may cost us in the short term but will be our national savior in the long term. An Israel tied as we are to American interests and diktat has no viable future and will quite assuredly lead to our destruction.
I would rather be hated and feared but alive, Than loved and dead.
Not bad
Bird, A chinese or Russian veto is every bit as good as an American one. If the other nations know beforehand that an American veto in Israels defense is not assured or forthcoming it is quite possible it might have a mollifying effect on the others. An American guaranteed veto has allowed them to be more stridently anti Israel then they might normally be.
Giving Russia large military orders in place of America balances Russian interests with those countries America doesn’t support. Gives us more leverage along with our technological superiority in many areas. It would make India and Israel more compatible as well sourcing upgrading and co producing the same weapons. What ever we lose by the loss of American aid we make up by 2-10 times more by additional export sales to countries and items America has barred us from selling. I’m not saying it’s so simple or not without it’s down sides but on balance it better for us.
Like an addict we may need a period of psychological cold turkey. I have always hoped that Obama would be the one to throw Israel under the bus because I knew or believed BB wouldn’t do it on his own. Obama may be for America a Plague but for us he might just be the one to save us from ourselves. Ironic?
I respectfully disagree….
I don’t see it as .. Does Israel need America….
I see the issue as… Why aren’t more American Jews showing vocal support for Israel?
President Obama is putting a gun to PM Netanyahu’s head (theoretically) & forcing Israel to possibly make untennable concessions. Why the American Jewish Community isn’t speaking out.. is a crime to me…..