U.S. and Israel Close Gap On Defence Aid Payouts

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

JERUSALEM, Aug 12 (Reuters) - The United States has yielded to some Israeli demands on how new U.S. military aid will be paid out, ending a brief dispute over the issue, an Israeli official involved in the talks said on Sunday.

With an eye on an ascendant Iran, Washington announced a defence package for its allies in the region on July 30 including stepping up aid to Israel -- which now receives $2.4 billion a year -- by 25 percent, for a total of $30 billion over the next decade.

The Bush administration wanted to increase the aid by a set amount each year, the Israeli official said, while Israel asked for the new funds to be "front-loaded", i.e. for a bigger chunk to be paid out in the first years, or spread evenly so the annual sum was $3 billion.

"We reached an agreement that is somewhere in the middle," the Israeli official said, adding that first payout under the new schedule would be $2.55 billion as proposed by Washington.

"After that, the increases will be steeper, meaning we achieve the $3 billion mark more quickly," the official said.



Read more: http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL1239120.html

[Purveyor]

1. "The United States has yielded to some Israeli demands..."

Well isn't this special. The US taxpayers donating $$$ to israel yet they have 'demands'?

Just what is wrong with this 'picture'?

[Hardrada]

2. If we do not give them what they want when they want

the Israelis will dissolve the American People and replace us with a better nation!

[LeftishBrit]

7. The Israelis won't. Bush might.

[LeftishBrit]

8. People involved in negotiations always make so-called 'demands'

It doesn't mean they'll get what they ask for.

I don't even approve of the amount of the military aid to Israel - or to *anywhere* - but I'm getting a bit sick of all this xenophobia about Israel somehow 'controlling' America. It doesn't. Especially as America is a superpower. The American government finds an alliance with Israel useful. If Israel ever ceased to be seen as strategically useful to America, America would stop giving it the aid pronto. Just as with any other country. So if anyone's being controlled, it's Israel - but see below.

Also, leaders have *choices* about their actions. Bush wanted allies for his illegal war in Iraq. Our elected leaders, to our eternal shame, agreed to it. Does that mean that America 'controls' Britain? No. Bush also wanted France to go in; but Chirac refused. Bush made a lot of noise, and the Republicans started eating 'freedom fries' - but no one could *force* Chirac to go into Iraq. They couldn't have forced Blair to go into Iraq if he'd chosen not to. Unless a country is actually invaded or formally colonized - its leaders have CHOICES. Scapegoating other countries for our leaders' choices is basically illiberal. I won't accept people here scapegoating America for Blair's choices; and I don't care for all the scapegoating of Israel either.

[JonathanInTelAviv]

11. Scapegoating Israel

"Scapegoating other countries for our leaders' choices is basically illiberal."

No, I'm pretty sure it's something else.

[entanglement]

15. I understand your point of view

But you should view criticism of Israel in context. First, you've most likely noticed that lots of other countries get blamed for the woes of the USA on this board and in quite harsh terms - Israel is hardly alone in that. Countries as diverse as the Mexico, China, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Russia figure on this list.

The nativists question why a *superpower* is so fond of a nation the size of New Jersey, with an economy the size of Kentucky and a population similar to that of Massachusetts. Huge congressional delegations to Israel, statements from elected leaders about Israeli interests being paramount and un-negotiable, news about increased aid to Israel and so on only reinforce their belief that Israeli interests *do* trump US interests. Of course, this is patently untrue - it is the interests of the ruling elite in both countries which comes first and foremost, but class awareness isn't exactly a strong point in these parts.

Secondly (I hope this doesn't offend anyone) our corporate media pretends to be more pro-Israeli that the Israeli media itself! You'd have to see it for yourself to believe it, but Israel IS our biggest sacred cow. It is even more annoying because so much of it is clearly reflexive and thoughtless. Lack of honest debate in the media (which is lacking in many other matters as well) leads to more suspicion and :tinfoilhat:

Thirdly, there are substantial and genuine grounds for criticism of the Israeli nation-state which I'll not elaborate here. Suffice to say that they exist and are not going away any time time soon.

Lastly, some of the pro-Israeli mouthpieces are absolutely obnoxious. It is a fact - read sites like the Jewish world review (which features prominent right-wing columnists) and you'll understand what I'm talking about. Their racism, militarism, social-darwinism, Islamophobia and xenophobia will surprise you. Their cause (Israel) is tarnished by association in people's minds.

entanglement

[JonathanInTelAviv]

16. And I understand (and respect) yours

"But you should view criticism of Israel in context."

The problem I have is with the over-the-top hostility towards Israel that includes charges of genocide, and attempts to deligitimize the very existence of Israel. None of the countries you listed are perfect, and what Russia did in Chechnya makes Israel's treatment of the Palestinians look like a love-in. But nobody's questioning the right of these countries to exist.

[redqueen]

18. Questioning the right of countries to exist?

Are you referring to something in another thread? All I've seen here is that we should cut the aid.

:shrug:

[LeftishBrit]

17. 'Tarnished by association'?

'Tarnishing by association' is illiberal at best; bigoted at worst.

We rightly condemn the Right for 'tarnishing' all Muslims and Arabs by association with the terrorist actions of Al Quaeda, or the speeches of some extremist clerics. Should all Israelis be tarnished by the existence of some extremist right-wing mouthpieces?

'lots of other countries get blamed for the woes of the USA' Yes; but not to the same extent; and (with the possible exception of Saudi Arabia) they are not normally accused of *controlling* the USA; just of treating it badly in certain ways. Of course, if you go to right-wing boards and media, you *do* get the paranoid accusations of 'Islamo-Fascist' plots to defeat and dominate the USA and the West; just as 50 years ago, you got the paranoia about 'Communist' plots to do so. But why should we imitate the Right?

'there are substantial and genuine grounds for criticism of the Israeli nation-state which I'll not elaborate here' Yes, just as there are for criticism of any country. There's a difference between criticising a country and implying that it's controlling your country.

[Palladin]

3. "and not one cent for tribute"

- Gen Henry Knox Sec'y of War Geo Washington administration

[Middle finga]

4. What the fuck! I was always told beggars shouldn't be choosy.

If they'd dismantled some those nuclear weapons they could afford their own defense.

[JonathanInTelAviv]

5. Dismantling nukes for money

Hey, that's pretty cool, didn't know you could do that.
Please post details where to send them for our refund.
Thanks.

[Middle finga]

13. It cost a lot of money to maintain an arsenal of nukes

Dismantling will cost in the short term but you'll save in long term.

[subsuelo]

6. You have to wonder who is really in control

[booley]

9. Why does israel get to demand anything?

It's AID, as in charity.

When third world countries come begging for humanitarian aid so thier people stop dying, they don't get to make demands. They take it on the US's terms or not at all.

Why should Israel, especially when they are using that money to kill people in an illegal occupation?

Why is it nations always seem to have an easier time finding money to kill people then to help them?

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

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[tabasco]

14. How nice that we've paid down the national debt and can afford

to give a nuclear power money to defend itself!