Israeli Defense Minister Moshe ‘Bogge’ Ya’alon has long been pushing for increased budgets, just as every other defense minister of the planet does, but this week revealed a rather shocking turn of events, the Israeli military is broke.
Despite billions of annual military aid from the US, Ya’alon announced next month’s “Turning Point 8” military exercise is cancelled, and all other drills are expected to follow, because Israel flat out can’t afford them.
Uncle Sam’s always good for a bit more though, right? That’s what Ya’alon is hoping, as he and other officials are pressing the US not only to announce an extension of their annual $3 billion in military aid to the country beyond 2017, when the current pledge expires, but to beef it up to something more like $3.5 billion annually for the next decade-long commitment.
That’s the opposite direction from what President Obama was thinking, as he’d been talking more about $2.8 billion, part of a “sharing sequestration” plan that Israeli officials had long insisted they were okay with.
National Security Adviser Susan Rice, in Israel right now, played up the $3 billion the US is already giving them as an “investment” that proves their dedication to Israel. That might’ve gone over a few years ago, but in Israel the focus is no longer on keeping the $3 billion level, but seeing how much more they can get.
NO! NO! NO! We don't have it either, haven't you heard? Learn to depend on yourself and/or quit badmouthing the U.S.A/Obama.
Shirely you do? There is several tens of billions coming out of the Federal Reserve every month I heard.
OOOOh, my heart goes for those poor souls, how can they keep killing Palestinian kids. Quick, lets pass the donation hat, or wait, uncle SAP will pick up any slack.
8 May – Aljazeera: The Lab: by Yotam Feldman: A unique insight into
the world of Israeli arms dealers selling weapons and experience around the
world. http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/witness/2014/…
Aljazeera: Israel's Drone Dealers by Yotam Feldman
People & Power investigates how Israeli drone technology – first tried and
tested in Gaza – came to be used by the US and its allies in Afghanistan and
elsewhere.
"Investment"? A cardinal rule of business is: Do not throw good money after bad. Let Israeli cut its fatten calf military pensions that are circa 4X private sector pensions. How do you think their retired generals can afford political careers? This is just one of many items of their bloated Israeli defense budget that could be pared.
http://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/eng/AboutTheCity/Pages…
Check out the average income in Tel Aviv. "Monthly Income per Household in Tel-Aviv-Yafo: 18,776 NIS (Gross Income)." At today's exchange rate that equals $65,430.51 annual income. How many American counties can match that? Israelis can afford their own defense budget.
The late Racist Chief Rabbi of Israel stated: “Goyim were born only to serve us. Without that, they have no place in the world; only to serve the People of Israel,” he said during a public discussion of what kind of work non-Jews are allowed to perform on Shabbat.
"Why are gentiles needed? They will work, they will plow, they will reap. We will sit like an effendi and eat," he said to some laughter.
http://www.jta.org/2010/10/18/news-opinion/israel…
That is exactly what is happening today. And it is time to stop it. All those supporting US aid to Israel should move there. They are not fellow citizens, they are parasites.
"You've got to be kidding"
A phrase that will be uttered by many upon hearing this "news". And one that will be uttered by even more the U.S. GovCo caves and gives them the money.
It's time to kid this irresponsible man-child of a nation out of the house and force them to live on their own. Only in this way will they truly suffer the consequences of bad decisions. We had to do it with our son when he was 19, time for Israel into the real world as well.
Don't give them a penny.
And we're just supposed to take the Zionists' word for it that they haven't, oh say, embezzled the money, or used it for something else, or are just making it all up? On the other hand, it's not as if the Pentagon offers any salutary lessons with regard to fiscal transparency.
Israelis can finance for their defense manias by decreasing their generous health benefits. After all, the USA-ians pay through the nose for healthcare, so why can't they? We have to subsidize their armed forces so they can enjoy good and relatively inexpensive healthcare? No! Another tale of what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
All that money, plus under the table bribes, and AIPAC donations they blew it all in the Gaza strip….by way of bombs, walls, fences just to keep that open air prison functional….C'mon uncle Sam, fork over the dough.
Summer time is a good time for Israel to approach us for money – I have little money to spare, but I do have a more than ample supply of sweat running off of my butt , that I will be glad to collect and send to them.
Israel's military may have a temporary cash flow problem, but in March 2014 Israel's leaders claimed that a surplus of money (some $3 billion) allowed the IDF to prepare for a 2014 invasion of Iran. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.5…
The problem, if there is one, was made in Israel.
No more aid to Israel.
This suggests that Israeli leaders realise that a US that will not fight for Europe will not fight for Israel and are trying to obtain some sort of public gesture that will indicate to Israel's enemies that that isn't true. Ironically, Israel is the big loser from Nuland's monumental blunder in Ukraine.
Nuland=Nudelman.
Almost as if they are ashamed of their heritage. I wonder why!
(aka) Nudelman/Kagan
We have already poured more money into Israel than any other country in the world. What we get is a bellicose, petulant, ungrateful, brutal, racist, expansionist, manipulative, apartheid state. Israel never misses an opportunity to gouge us for money and spit in our face. No more aid to, or vetos in behalf of, Israel.
Ask the Knesset to open the "real" books for inspection. Regardless, they deserve nothing more from the American taxpayer.
I suggest they try a "bagel sale."
(For this idea I credit the peace movement slogan: "Won't it be a great day when the Navy has to hold a bake sale to finance building a battleship?").
A little explanatory note for the above:
The U.S. government is sponsoring the Israeli government's efforts to preserve its ethnocratic nature. It may be fulfilling to the U.S. government to get this (im)moral support for its own past and continuing history of ethnic expulsion and imperial manipulation, but it's surely time for both to break their bad habits and work for their better interests, not their worst.
Joe M., Los Angeles
I wouldn't give them a single penny.
seems to me for these people that are so called smart, and the chosen ones they need allot of help and welfare. How long have they been on welfare now from the american taxpayer 68 years me think they not smart at all, and the only thing they are chosen for is hell.
Build less settlements and bomb fewer neighbors and the IDF budget can be cut in 1/2. There is no need for the huge expenditure for a military which has not helped with on second of man power on any of our needs for help. The IDF has avoided conflict since 1973 except any action taken on by choice. So chose less invasions and get off the USA taxpayers backs. The IDF does not have an enemy and it is a huge miltiary capable of taking on Russia.
I would seriously consider voting in favor of sending to Israel a dozen ICBM's.. No charge.
Cut these self-pitying Jewish supremacists loose!
How much more grief will we allow these sociopathic shysters to cause everyone else?
Cut these self-pitying Jewish supremacists loose!
How much more grief will we allow these sociopathic shysters to cause everyone else?
if and when israel pays back every cent they borrowed from us in the first place, then and only then can they ask for more.
I would love to see apartheid practicing Israel get their ass handed to them. There’s part of me wishing we’d invade Iran so we could dump Israel.