I can live with it. Especially if we are liberated to build our own and buy and sell anywhere. The US could always include support of Israel in their defense budget. But this is a huge political issue. The Left who complain that Israel is the biggest recipient of such aid will now attack Republicans for denying Israel such aid. Our great “friends” like J street and NJDC are already chiming in. On the other hand, the Republicans are in a bad spot. They have no choice but to refute Paul. This will become a very big wedge issue. T. Belman
WASHINGTON (JTA) — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul wants to end all foreign assistance, including aid to Israel.
Paul, a Republican newly elected in Kentucky, was on CNN Wednesday outlining where he would cut the $500 billion in government spending he says is critical to sustaining the U.S. economy. His focus was on the departments of energy, education and housing.
Interviewer Wolf Blitzer then asked about foreign assistance, asking if he wanted to end “all foreign aid.” Paul said yes, and Blitzer asked him about aid to Israel.
“Well, I think what you have to do is you have to look,” Paul said. “When you send foreign aid, you actually [send] quite a bit to Israel’s enemies. Islamic nations around Israel get quite a bit of foreign aid, too.
“You have to ask yourself, are we funding an arms race on both sides? I have a lot of sympathy and respect for Israel as a democratic nation, as a, you know, a fountain of peace and a fountain of democracy within the Middle East.”
Blitzer pressed, “End all foreign aid including the foreign aid to Israel as well. Is that right?” he asked.
Paul answered, “Yes.”
Paul is a favorite of the Tea Party insurgency that propelled the Republican takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives in the most recent election.
His father is Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), considered among the least Israel-friendly members of Congress.
During the campaign, Paul distanced himself from some of his father’s views, particularly on whether Iran poses a threat to U.S. interests, but nonetheless elicited concerns from pro-Israel groups because of his insistence on slashing foreign aid.
U.S. Democrats and pro-Israel lobbies slam Republican Senator’s call to halt Israel aid
[..]
Pro-Israel Jewish lobby J Street issued a statement in response to Paul’s comments saying it was “alarmed” by his suggestion.
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“Senator Paul’s proposal would undermine the decades-long bipartisan consensus on U.S. support for Israel. Any erosion of support should concern Israel’s friends on both sides of the political aisle, and we call in particular on leaders and donors in Senator Paul’s party to repudiate his comments and ensure that American leadership around the world is not threatened by this irresponsible proposal,”
National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) President and CEO David Harris also condemned his statement saying that
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“Paul’s suggestion is negligent, shortsighted, and just plain wrong,” adding that “foreign aid in general, and aid to Israel in particular, is crucial to Israel’s security and its pursuit of peace. Senator Paul’s statement is yet another illustration of how the Republican Party continues to grow increasingly out of touch with the values of the vast majority of the American Jewish community.”
Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, called the initiative “shocking”.
“Israel is the only democratic nation in the Middle East and one of our most stalwart allies”, Lowey said. “A stable and secure Israel is in our national security interest and has been a staple of our foreign policy for more than sixty years. Using our budget deficit as a reason to abandon Israel is inexcusable. It is unclear to me whether Rand Paul speaks for the Tea Party, the Republican Party, or simply himself”.
Meanwhile, Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matthew Brooks issued a statement saying “we share Senator Paul’s commitment to restraining the growth of federal spending, but we reject his misguided proposal to end U.S. assistance to our ally, Israel.”
“Moreover, based on his comments in an interview with CNN, we are concerned that Senator Paul may not grasp the fundamentals of our alliance with Israel. In 2007, the U.S. and Israel signed a ten-year ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU) to govern U.S. assistance going forward. A critical aim of the MoU was to preserve Israel’s qualitative military advantage. Accordingly, any concern that U.S. assistance might undermine Israel’s security is groundless,” Brooks said.
Here’s the list.
Vinnie,
Don’t know if this specifically is what you were referring to, but you’re welcome to it — originally from Steve Carol. Some of it may need up-dating (or other fine-tuning, etc) for your purposes. If so, he may also be able to help you with that directly:
WHAT ISRAEL DOES FOR THE UNITED STATES
Posted by JewishRefugee
Dr. Steve Carol
Throughout the six decades since the re-establishment of Israel, an often repeated claim in made that “Israel is a draining liability on the United States.” This claim is bogus and an examination of the facts hopefully will consign this charge to the trash-heap where it belongs.
Further adding to the problem are statements made by and the conduct of Israel’s leftist leaders since 1993 create the false impression that Israeli-American ties constitute a one-way relationship. The impression is given that the U.S. gives and Israel merely receives and thus must constantly bow to “American pressure” as personified by the U.S. State Department.
The truth is that the relationship is a two-way partnership. For example:
• In 1952, as the Cold War got underway, U.S. Army Chief-of-Staff Omar Bradley called for the integration of Israel into the Mediterranean Basin area, in light of the country’s location and unique capabilities.
• In 1967, Israel defeated a radical Arab, pro-Soviet offensive, which threatened to bring about the collapse of pro-American Arab regimes and disrupt oil supply, thus severely undermining the American standard of living. The U.S. gained valuable military information from analysis of captured Soviet equipment, including SAM-2, SAM-12, Mig-21 aircraft, and Soviet T-54 battle tanks. In fact, Israel gave an entire squadron of MiG-21s to the U.S. which was dubbed the “Top Gun” squadron and used by the U.S. Air and Naval forces for training purposes. Since 1967, Israel transferred captured Soviet weapons systems to the U.S. Pentagon after every conflict: 1967, 1967-70, 1973, 1982, 1990 (Scud remnants from the Gulf War), and 2006 (remnants of Iranian supplied missiles.
• In the 1967-1970 1000 Day War of Attrition, the IDF, armed with American aircraft successfully defeated a Soviet-supplied air defense system, pointing out the deficiencies in Soviet air-defense doctrine to US defense planners. Israel shared captured military equipment include P-2 radar and Soviet tanks with the U.S. military.
• In 1970, Israel brought about the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Jordan, at a time when the U.S. was tied up by wars in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, thus preventing the fall of the pro-American Hashemite regime and the installation of a pro-Soviet radical Palestinian terrorist regime.
• In 1973 – thanks to U.S. re-supply, but without U.S. forces, Israel defeated Soviet-trained and equipped Egyptian and Syrian forces. Israel again shared captured Soviet equipment, including T-62 battle tanks with the U.S. Israel emerged as the only reliable ally where U.S. troops could land, where U.S. equipment can be pre-positioned, where the U.S. has friendly port facilities (in Haifa and Ashdod) in the entire Middle East region. This too has saved the U.S. billions of dollars.
• 1970s – Joseph Sisco, a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, assistant to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger during the latter’s shuttle diplomacy, told the Israeli author and military expert, Shmuel Katz: “I want to assure you, Mr. Katz, that if we were not getting full value for our money, you would not get a cent from us.”
• In 1981, Israel bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak, delaying Saddam Hussein’s quest for nuclear weapons. It thus provided the U.S. with the option of engaging in conventional wars with Iraq in 1991 and 2003.
• The vice president General Dynamics which produces the F16 fighter jets has stated that Israel is responsible for 600 improvements in the plane’s systems, modifications estimated to be worth billions of dollars, which spared dozens of research and development years.
• In 1982, Israel destroyed Soviet anti-aircraft batteries in Lebanon that were considered immune to American weapons. Israel promptly shared the operation’s lessons, estimated to be worth billions of dollars.
• Former Secretary of State and NATO forces commander Alexander Haig has stated that he is pro-Israeli because Israel is the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk, does not carry even one American soldier, and is located in a critical region for American national security.
• During the first Gulf War 1991, Israel provided invaluable intelligence, an umbrella of air cover for military cargo, and had personnel planted in the Iraqi desert to pick up downed American pilots.
• General George Keegan, former head of U.S. Air Force Intelligence has publicly declared that “Israel is worth five CIA’s.” He further stated that between 1974 and 1990, Israel received $18.3 billion in U.S. military grants. During the same period Israel provided the U.S. with $50-80 billion in intelligence, research and development savings, and Soviet weapons systems captured and transferred to the U.S.
• In 2005, Israel provided America with the world’s most extensive experience in homeland defense and warfare against suicide bombers and car bombs. American soldiers train in IDF facilities and Israeli-made drones fly above the “Sunni Triangle” in Iraq, as well as in Afghanistan, providing U.S. Marines with vital intelligence.
• In September 2007, the IAF destroyed a Syrian-North Korean nuclear plant, extending the US’s strategic arm. It provided the US with vital information on Russian air defense systems, which are also employed by Iran. It bolstered the US posture of deterrence and refuted the claim that US-Israel relations have been shaped by political expediency.
• In 2009, Israel shares with the US its battle-tested experience in combating Palestinian and Hizbullah terrorism, which are the role model of anti-US Islamic terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. US GIs benefit from Israel’s battle tactics against car bombs, improvised explosive devices and homicide bombing. An Israel-like ally in the Persian Gulf would have spared the need to dispatch US troops to Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
• Israel has relayed to the U.S. lessons of battle (during the Cold War – Soviet military doctrine) and counter-terrorism (including aircraft security, homicide-suicide bombings) which reduce American losses in Iraq and Afghanistan, prevent attacks on U.S. soil, upgrade American weapons, and contribute to the U.S. economy. Without Israel, the U.S. would have been forced to deploy tens of thousands of American troops in the eastern Mediterranean Basin, at a cost of billions of dollars a year.
• Senator Daniel Inouye has recently (2005) argued Israeli information regarding Soviet arms saved the U.S. billions of dollars. The contribution made by Israeli intelligence to America is greater than that provided by all NATO countries combined, he said.
• Israel’s utilization of American arms guarantees its existence, but at the same time gives U.S. military industries, such as Boeing and General Dynamics, a competitive edge compared to European industries, while also boosting American military production, producing American jobs, and improving America’s national security. Japan and South Korea, for example, preferred the “Hawkeye” spy plane and the MD-500 chopper, both purchased and upgraded by Israel, over comparable British and French aircraft.
• The American industries want U.S. aid to Israel to continue. The bulk of the $1.8 billion in annual U.S. military aid to Israel must be spent in the United States. That provides jobs for some 50,000 U.S. workers. Virtually all of the $1.2 billion in annual economic aid goes for repayment of debt to the United States, incurred from military purchases dating back many years. This debt is now close to being liquidated.
• Innovative Israeli technologies have a similar effect on American civilian industries, including computer-related industries and agricultural industries, which view Israel as a successful R & D [research-and-development] site.
• Members of the U.S. Congress leaders, former Vice President Dick Cheney, and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, are aware of Israel’s unique contribution to U.S. interests. But, in fact, they all wonder why the post-1993 Israel does not use its impressive contribution as leverage, in sharp contrast to the pre-1993 Israel.
• In contrast to our commitments to Korea, Japan, Germany and other parts of the world, not a single American serviceperson needs to be stationed in Israel. Considering that the cost of one serviceperson per year – including backup and infrastructure – is estimated to be about $200,000 per year, and assuming a minimum contingent of 25,000 troops, the cost savings to the United States on that score alone are on the order of, AT MINIMUM, $5 billion a year.
I would love it if Israel stands on it’s own without aid from any country for 2 reasons.
1) It irritates me to no end when people slam US aid to Israel without mentioning the US aid to Egypt which was agreed upon in Camp David. If I had a penny for the number of times in my lifetime I read in websites that mention Jonathan Pollard or Black Supremacy or White Supremacy or the USS Liberty or Revisionist History in the same breath as not giving aid to Israel I would be a millionaire.
2) The concept of the highest form of mitzvah is to help and not expect recognition for it is one of the concepts I dearly love about Torah. Representatives of countries who give aid feel that it is incumbent upon the aid recipient to follow policies dictated for it or be considered ungrateful and unworthy. Or does this only apply to Israel?
However Rand Paul’s comments make me wonder if the acorn doesn’t fall too far from the tree? After all, Ron Paul seemed to make a habit of singling out Israeli Aid.
Here’s what I want to know.
Does Paul’s $500 billion deficit cutting plan include withdrawing from Europe, Japan, and South Korea? We have well over 100,000 troops stationed in these three countries, all of which are very prosperous and can look after their own defense. The associated costs are probably well over $100 billion year in and year out; just what we’ve spent in the last twenty years – the time elapsed since the end of the Cold War, when much of this became irrelevant, particularly the German component (the largest share) – exceeds the total we’ve spent aid for modern Israel since her creation by many, many times.
The money we spend on helping to defend Germany, Japan, and South Korea is that much less they have to spend on their own defense. They regularly run trade surpluses against us. It is particularly difficult for us to sell our products in Korea and Japan, though at least these states have the good manners to buy our weapons, and Germany doesn’t even do that anymore.
I agree that the aid should be shifted to the defense budget, of course. I also agree that even this amount should be limited to what is spent on collaborative ventures (e.g., missile defense technologies) that benefit both countries. I’d happily trade a reduction in U.S. $$$ support for Israel in exchange for rock-solid, no-expiration-date support in the UN, and perhaps even a bilateral defense treaty.
Hey Yamit: A little while ago you published on this forum the comprehensive list I’ve seen of benefits from U.S. aid to Israel. Can we get a re-print? I’m planning on getting a letter of even a guest op-ed piece out on this topic, and that would be a real help.
one of the most repetitive complaints from the left in the U.S. is the “aid” to Israel. It gets very tiresome the way they repeat it, everywhere.
Rand Paul is in a small ideological place, and no one takes him seriously.
I actually think Israel would be better off without the military aid if it continues to come with so many stipulations favoring US defense.
Of course, it may be that by next week, the U.S. and NATO will be asking Israel to secure part of the Sinai as part of a multi-national decision to secure the Suez Canal, and then Israel will be 1) proved to be America’s most reliable ally, and 2) blamed for whatever happens in Egypt, which Israel will be blamed for anyway. Mossad-trained killer shark type blame 🙂
What I am looking forward to is the US cuttng off funding for UNRWA. That really could happen, and it has nothing to do with Rand Paul. Very fitting he won Jim Bunning’s seat in the Senate.
It should be remembered that the majority of jewish voters went Democratic as usual. Now it’s pay back time for these Jewish voters.
I agree.
Aid to Israel should be removed from the Foreign Aid budget and placed where it belongs, in the Defense budget
— until Israel’s production capabilities render her own arms industry able to produce adequate back-ups of ammo & spare parts.
Keeping it in Foreign Aid has always bothered me — for decades; makes G.O.I. look like a perpetual beggar, a schnorrer; yuk.
Just like I suspected. The spin continues.
As a Jew, if I choose and I do, I am wary of him. Period. I was wary long before he made that statement.
You know what, I don’t care if Blitzer prodded Rand Paul to say “Israel included” but to think the tiny state of Israel, surrounded by arch enemies in a world filled with arch enemies, should not receive aid is crap. Furthermore, it is not aid it is a loan.
Just because there is so much spin, I am wary of it all.
No one labeled him that. Because Rand did not single out Israel and didn’t even mention Israel until Blitzer pressed him to. But typical of anti-Israel zealouts like yourself HCQ, you make this preemptive charge.
Come on. We all know the Israel stance in the Paul family long before Rand made that comment.
That was an ignorant statement by Paul because AID to other countries (right or wrong) is the centerpiece of America. (to be debated how much and who to cut off and why way down the road…if ever Rand Paul is very very smart. He knows aid will never stop. It is impossible.
If this were said by a Democrat (especially the part about cutting aid from Israel) there would be a firestorm on the other side and we know it. However the fact that one of our own made this statement it is now being rationalized that it is high time Israel needs to break away anyway. Oh my all the articles and comments these past years on conservative blogs concerning how much Israel gives which is far more than she receives….I guess we should just forget about. LOL, I see it is already forgotten.
Well I refuse to own a Paul anyway because of their known anti Israel stance which Rand denied because of his father but obviously the truth always comes to the surface. Of course as a Jew the fact there there might be some ‘Bircher’ remnants in the Paul household freaks me out! (another topic my friends shy away from)
It takes balls to do something like this. The politically expedient thing to do would be to kiss ass, but Rand stands by his conviction that ALL Foreign Aid should be eliminated and no playing favorites. Of course now Rand will be labeled an anti-semite and anti-Israel.
Israel needs to design and manufacture more of it’s own defense materials anyway instead of buying the USA’s(which we force them to do with most of the foreign aid and therefore it’s arguable as to whether Israel belongs in the U.S. defense budget).
I’m pleased to see more Israelis admitting they would like to see Israel move away from accepting U.S. foreign aid.