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Should the United States Still Support Israel?
Glyph
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I recently watched a BBC debate between supporters and opponents of the United States' support for Israel after which the audience, primarily Americans, would vote on which motion most appealed to them. An overwhelming majority voted against further support for Israel so I began to wonder if this reflected a growing sentiment among most Americans today. Looking at it as practically and objectively as possible, should we still be supporting them politically and militarily?
On the one hand, Israel is one of a few key secular democratic allies the Western world actually has in the Middle East, providing what some would argue is an invaluable foothold in that region. In terms of our own interests, this aspect cannot possibly be overstated.
On the other hand, it is a lightning rod for tensions between the West and the Middle East, as well as the greater Muslim world, seen at best as a partnership of strategic convenience and at worst a Judeo-Christian alliance to destroy Islam and destabilize the entire region.
Certainly atrocities have been committed on both sides and there is a back-and-forth history regarding whether there was even a Palestinian state to begin with (there wasn't, apparently) and whether European Jews had the right to reclaim land belonging to their ancestors some thousands of years ago. All of that is somewhat moot now except when looking at it from a sociological perspective but pragmatically speaking, what is in the best interest of the West and the international community as a whole, especially the United States and her allies? Is it time to cut the cord?
On the one hand, Israel is one of a few key secular democratic allies the Western world actually has in the Middle East, providing what some would argue is an invaluable foothold in that region. In terms of our own interests, this aspect cannot possibly be overstated.
On the other hand, it is a lightning rod for tensions between the West and the Middle East, as well as the greater Muslim world, seen at best as a partnership of strategic convenience and at worst a Judeo-Christian alliance to destroy Islam and destabilize the entire region.
Certainly atrocities have been committed on both sides and there is a back-and-forth history regarding whether there was even a Palestinian state to begin with (there wasn't, apparently) and whether European Jews had the right to reclaim land belonging to their ancestors some thousands of years ago. All of that is somewhat moot now except when looking at it from a sociological perspective but pragmatically speaking, what is in the best interest of the West and the international community as a whole, especially the United States and her allies? Is it time to cut the cord?
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They should also be able to handle themselves with all the weapons we've given them and the theoretical nuclear weapon(s) they have. Then again I'm an atheist and the whole holy land argument has merit for me.
I'm pretty sure you just overstated it. What's this "foothold" that Israel provides? It doesn't garner any political benefit outside of Israel, and even physically, it's not that useful.
Sure, I'll try to come up with something more complex than a y/n.
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edit: hey I didn't vote for option one... I think we have an impostor in our midsts.
I'm with SyphonBlue, still support Israel but not unconditionally.
Basically, if Israel was acting like grownups, I would be fine with the level of support they receive now.
I suspect the next six months will be quite telling. Obama's administration has apparently held a rather consistent line wrt settlements and Israel's place in the region. If this comes to a head and Israel tries to undermine the current administration, one side, not sure which, is going to get hurt really badly.
I like the ElJeffe option. "Do what we say or we stop giving you free helicopters."
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I say we cut support completely.
That's not true at all. Lieberman may be a racist asshole but he hardly represents the entire government (woohoo fucked up Israeli election system!), much less the majority of the populace.
Their right wingers are a strange group and not representative of the country as a whole. They tend to be extremely religious while the majority is fairly secular and progressive.
Plus their paranoid Anti-gentileism is kinda grating at times (if not completly unjustified). Accusing everyone that critises Israel for being anti-Semitic and claiming that they are justified in doing anything to secure Israels future.
Your second sentence is not supported by your first sentence. Blind support hurts us, yes. But how about qualified support? Obama is trying to change the dynamic of US/Israeli relations by asking more of the Israelis or else they will face reductions in support. Cutting support completely removes any leverage we have.
Not to mention the extensive nuclear arsenal that they have, but deny.
How so?
We've had nothing for blind support for them, which has hurt us, which is why I vote we cut support. I don't understand how those two sentances don't support eachother.
I am fine with the Nukes, the Holocaust and the Arab/Israeli wars make them practicaly a given for a Israeli future.
Its the whole using F-16 and MBT for crowd control I oppose.
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