Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pushes to attack Iran are going to come at an enormous cost, and its not even just the cost of their huge military and the elaborate weapons used in the initial strike.
New estimates from Business Data Israel are claiming a cost of 167 billion NIS, or about $42 billion just in damage to the economy as the result of a war with Iran, predicting some $10 billion in lost hours, $2 billion in military costs and another $30 billion in lost trade.
Even this might be a modest estimate, analysts say, as the report explicitly did not attempt to take into account the impact of the war on oil price, which would likely be substantial itself, but it much harder to figure.
Israel’s banking chief Stanley Fischer warned earlier this month of the economic crisis that might result from an attack on Iran, but this is the first time that economic analysts have attempted to put an actual dollar figure on the matter.
Don’t worry be happy, uncle sam is here to pay everything you ask bibi.
It's about time such a study was done and published. The only thing that will deflect Netanyahu and Israel from its proposed war with Iran is money. Israel worships at the shrine of money and the influence it can buy so if an Iran war will lead to a significant decrease in the standard of living of most Israelis, you can be sure that they will take notice.
I was the first one but it was rejected.
t of that going on. I noticed mine was not posted either. I guess we are not allowed to mention that bibi just wants the war fought with our kids
[moderator’s note: Actually, it was posted — once a moderator pulled it out of the spam filters and verified that it wasn’t spam or hate material. Unfortunately, we can’t afford to give each commenter his or her own 24/7 moderation concierge. If you’d like to change that, see the “donate” page – TLK]
thanks moderator. I try not to post hate and I admit being opposed to the policies of Israel and that is done by government. Government is made up of many different groups and people. I do try to express my opinion and not against people not in office. The Prime minister is fair game in my opinion the key is to try to be fair even when I am so much against his ;policies as possible.
I'm against his policys also VERY much.I'm also against the governments that support his policys,and send are soldiers to fight in these illegal unconstitutional wars to murder and die.They don't like us because of the terrorism we cause the countrys we claim to help.Many FACTS can not be talked about,and we are supposed to have freeom of speech.I'm Canadian and we are government walk hand and hand with America and Israel.
It will cost the whole economy. The fuel-air explosives will finally solve that problem.
Not to worry. The dumb Americans will pick up the tab.
Bibi will figure some way to get our kids to do the bleeding while making sure Israel keeps the profit.
Or, a bit more precisely, it will cost the USA ~$420 billion, taking the graft and cronyism into account.
At least Obama-Romney have some figures to count into their electoral fray. What's a few billion more here and there? A bankrupt economy and a submissive US tax-paying electorate should happily cough up this amount and more – yet again. Remember Iraq? Not even Nutty is lunatic enough to go it alone – notwithstanding US elections and our all too familiar genuflecting candidates. Cowards (and the deranged) only go after the weak: remember how Iraq was emaciated before the invasion.
All the US has to do is let this rabid bag of hot air go it alone – sans American troops and economic support – and get the whipping it has coming. Since it simply refuses to make peace, this misadventure would almost certainly spell the end of the illegal zionist usurpation of Palestine.
Only $42B. Now big deal. They gotta rich uncle.
Let Sheldon and The Donald to pay for it, and then when they have nothing left, let the banks foreclose on their mansions.
The sooner Israel is bankrupted by her own actions the better – that will shutdown this little rabid Chiahuhua
Israel military has not faced a military unit since 1973. They are rested especially for a war of choice. It would be amazing if the jewish soldier march off only to return to an arab nation because bibi had to have his war of choice.
No doubt the Israelis took one look at this report and burst out laughing. Most likely said to themselves.. “hey no worries, we get that big dumbass inbred that we always kick around called America to cough up the 42billion.. and if we know that lot a well as we do, they’ll be falling over themselves to the point of embarrassment to get us that dosh.. Now which idiot thought this report would deter our plans?”
No doubt the Israelis took one look at this report and burst out laughing. Most likely said to themselves.. “hey no worries, we get that big dumbass inbred that we always kick around called America to cough up the 42billion.. and if we know that lot a well as we do, they’ll be falling over themselves to the point of embarrassment to get us that dosh.. Now which idiot thought this report would deter our scummy plans?”
Agree with the above posts: the Israel Lobby will ensure US taxpayers pick up the tab.
Israel has all those lovely oil/gas fields just off its coast. At the 2012 Herzliya Israel security conference, there was an invitation-only session on how Israel should handle oil reaching $250 a barrel (i.e more than doubling) – use it internally or sell it? I wonder what sort of acts would raise the price of oil. War in the Gulf perhaps. Maybe it seeks to be a substitute oil supplier if the price is right – so the US/EU could bypass all those nasty despotic ME theocracies. I also wonder how many attendees hold long positions on oil reaching say $250. If they do and war happens, then bingo, the cash rolls in.
Not to worry…the oil revenues from the Iranian oil fields will pay for everything…and what it doesn't cover, the US will be made to feel obligated (by the Issraeli-Firsters and dual-citizens to make up the difference – despite a crushing economic downturn worldwide as a result of Israel's hubris.
$42b? That is insignificant amount compared to the cost related to World Public Opinion towards Israel if such totally unjustifiable carnage and destruction takes place.
At the moment majority of Europeans think Israel is the most dangerous country in the world. After the dusts of such a war are ed (a new kind of war that could drag on for a long time) world majority might turn against the 'apathetic apartheid state'.
Then it would not be too hard to foresee the inevitable outcome for Israel.
Netanyahu and other extremely powerful Likudnk 'kings'might go to pages of history as the best friend of Iran.
I think that most nations, and most people, around the world already don't support Israel, but it doesn't matter – as long as the U.S. still does.
The US will pay for everything and a handful of billionaires will end up 'making a killing'.
I think the Iranians and the Chinese might make the killing, if some of the things I've heard are true. Only time will tell, but my money's not on the jew.
Could anybody disagree, that 1948 and state of Israel was the biggest, most embarising mistake UN made? Real Jews refuse to live there because its against Gods comandment, while Zionist fanatics created pernament wars and conflicts…and twisted Torah/Old Testament records. Corrupted Chrisendom says nothing!
Generations of Palestine people need to return to their land! Only horrific war /made by Israel as always/ can prolong existence of Israel for a short while as this "insult to humanity" – most barbaric ideology covered in blood of innocent people will disapear with Gods help forever ..and ME return to endless peace…peter czech
So, why are American tax payers just posting their disgust? Can we organize and bombard our legislators with hundreds of thousands or letters and protests? Are we afraid in this great "democracy"
to be heard outside the internet? Look at mass protest (in hundreds of thousands) in other countries against their governments' violations and economic injustice.
Sometime ago, muslim businessmen of South America, who are respected and not on terrorist lists, vowed that if the U.S. goes to war against Iran, they will flood the U.S. with muslims (holding valid passports) with an agenda to disable/harm the U.S. anyway they can. There is an international rage against Israel and, by extension, against Jews who are now perceived as the greatest present threat to world peace. This is unfortunate for many Jews are very opposed to zionist agendas and present Israeli actions. Nonetheless, are the people of the U.S. willing to endure massive assaults against them — ON U.S. SOIL — to support a messianic Israeli prime minister? Why did Obama reply to the French president that he (Obama) had to "deal with Netanyahu" every day? Couldn't have something to do with U.S.'s massive debt could it? So, the U.S. government will support Israel (regardless of who is elected) at the cost of the lives of children and non-combatant citizens to go to war against Iran. This is some democracy.
This turd is seriously overplaying his hand. I can only hope and pray that his idiotic meddling in US elections and his unmitigated arrogance finally destroys the unforturnate "special" relationship America is forced thru bribery and blackmail to have with this so-called "country."
“Yonatan
August 20th, 2012 at 4:59 am
Israel has all those lovely oil/gas fields just off its coast. At the 2012 Herzliya Israel security conference, there was an invitation-only session on how Israel should handle oil reaching $250 a barrel (i.e more than doubling) – use it internally or sell it? I wonder what sort of acts would raise the price of oil.
>>>>>>>>
Just one problem dumbo…..Israel hasn’t been able to contract with any major oil company to extract their gas and oil. None are willing to take the risk especially since actual ownership of some of the fields are contested.And Israel does not have the expertise or financial resources to go it alone.
Evidently you don’t stay abreast of oil development news in the oil industy.
We can just borrow it from China.
It's been the custom for many years that the UN prods its membership to clean up after Israel's messes. So far as I know, there's still almost a billion dollars sitting in an account somewhere intended to put Gaza back together again after Israel massacred it. But Bibi has never allowed those funds into Gaza or turned them over to the PA.
To be sure, the USA Tax payer will pay the Bill. Why do you think that there is a Zionist in control of every important US government department?