As the single largest expense of the 2010 foreign aid budget, President Obama approved $2.775 billion in military aid to Israel, the first payment in a decade-long commitment that will reach at least $30 billion.
Last year, Israel’s military budget amounted to $13.3 billion, so the US funding is a significant portion of their overall expenditure. The US formerly provided both military and civilian aid, but it has since been folded entirely into military aid, at Israel’s request.
The money is not a blank check, however. The US requires that Israel spend at least 75% of the money given in military aid with US military contractors, effectively using the foreign aid budget to subsidize domestic weapon-makers.
In addition to military aid, the US also provides $3.148 billion in loan guarantees to Israel, part of a Treasury Department program aimed at keep Israel’s debt manageable. Ironically, though the US budget is spiraling out of control and America’s own debt continues to rise, there was no serious debate of reducing aid to Israel.
The budget also pledges $500 million in American aid to the Fatah Party’s Palestinian Authority. This aid is contingent on certain requirements, including that the group recognize Israel. This funding is distinct from any funding the CIA may give the Palestinian Authority’s security forces, which would be secret.
YES WE CAN!
To all,
What a shameful propostrous position the US is taking. This money should go to our schools, infrastructure, social programs, etc. and not air an occupying country that has broken International law countless times, committing grave violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people and wreaking havoc in teh entire Middle East.
How in the world can we promote peace in the "region" by insanely arming war criminals ?
The United States government is 12 trillion dollars in debt and running a 1.4 trillion dollar deficit, yet the United Congress is going to borrow an additional 30 billion dollars from China to help make the Middle East safe for the Likud’s party vision of a greater Israel. The United States government cannot afford its own decent into militarism, yet the United State Congress is subsidizing the militarism of the Israeli government.
One last piece of information:
As many of you may know, Ilan Pappe is a world renowned Israeli historian. In recent years, he was chased out of Israel for speaking against Israel's human rights violations, particularly in regard to the occupation of Palestinians and the destruction of Palestinian towns and villages.
Now in Britain, Pappe teaches at a university there and has been a passionate voice for justice. In the following talk, he explains precisely what you and I and every average person can do to end Israeli apartheid:
Lieberman is destroying Obama to pave the way to Tehran – destroying Obama over healthcare was the easiest way for Lieberman and the rest of the Neocons to destroy Obama himself as a functional American president. Joe is not interested in destroying Healthcare reform – never was – he destroyed Obama for the Neocons. It’s as simple as that.
They have succeeded – Obama is now so weakened he will not be able to stop the coming Israeli attack and may have to either preempt it or join it. The ridiculous cover stories that Joe's motives are revenge on the Dems or due to the Conn Insurance industry are laughable
Joe and the rest of the real men want to go to Tehran – and they are going to do it.
Destroying Healthcare and thereby destroying Obama was their ticket to Tehran. The Neocons and the Israel Lobby just took down another sitting American president
Very interesting analysis Blutopie … was obama singled out with all this in view right from the
start … …??
His lack of formal economic training must have made him very susceptible to manipulation
by those guiding recent events involving the big banks and the american federal reserve in
its so-called attempts to stop financial melt-down …
Useful I suppose when trillions of american dollars are being carefully guided into the
"correct" channels …
Just like the last two UK chancellors gordon brown and alistair darling … neither with any formal
economic study to guide their financial policies …..
Some of these shadowy figures in the political background sure do know how to play
political chess …
If only Americans knew–Israel is a USA military base, contracted out to Russians,which is stationed in the Middle East to keep the Arabs in line. Get over the Billion$ allocated to Israel.It's part of doing business– Americans wouldn't know the differance, might as well replace the Star of David's flag with the Skull & Bones black Flag called–Jolly Roger–
and in a perfect world,ole jack might just have a loose cannon or three,alamo the liberty and don't forget the real reson behind lbj's and or, OO, jfk's United States ship liberty that had the dirt on the real flashpoint circa 1967,the great society just never had a chance, murdered in the womb bomb of democracy,Vietnam,kissenger,in a long line of retarted tools loyal (unconstatutionaly)to foreign alein queers,
Hi Jojo, I'm with you! I hate BLOODYISRAEL's if it calls itself a 'country' or a Military base like it really is. I call it a whore for that MF Pipeline from bloody hell that the Petroleum mafia is shoving down the throats of all the real nations that said, 'NO! We do not want to be a part of EMPIRE FOR BLOODYISRAEL'!!!!
Blutopie, You mighr be on to something there. I never thought abt. it that way before, thanks for the idea. I loath and detest BLOODYISRAEL and each and every traitor who supports AIPAC. I'm a liberal Jew, and am totally against apartide, BLOODYISRAEL.
Fascist buddies support each other- fascist amerika and its 51st state !
This is the power of AIPAC and Israeli control of the US government. We’ll starve and be broke before we ever miss a bequest to Israel…all costs, no benefits…Remember the USS Liberty when the US government permanently ’sold out’ its citizens for Zionism and Israel. “Hope and Change” becomes the same old shit. ‘Israel First’ or Bust!
This is totally absurd. We shouldn't be giving so much to Israel, although small payments might be worth something for access to intelligence. And giving anything to the Palestinian terrorists is doubly absurd, and really smacks of protection money — pay them so they don't hit the USA. What are these bozos in DC thinking?
The American People do not deserve a public healthcare system. they are supporting War Trash like Senator Lieberman and would rather finance israels ongoing Genocide towards the Palestinian Nation. i guess when it comes to either a public health plan or financing illegal wars and rouge states like israel, the public looses. Lieberman is considering to run again, please vote for him because you are past the point of no return. yours will be the next empire to collapse and it can not be too soon.
This is just disgusting. This really turns my stomach.
"part of a treasury department program aimed at keeping Israel's debt manageable"……
Never mind keeping AMERICA'S debt manageable. Only Israel matters. What a bizarro world. Were "only" 14 trillion in the hole. The sooner the dumb American empire crashes and burns and the Chinese take over the better….
Germans were sickened by the exploitations of the children of David to the point that they made them wear their emblem on their lapel. I suggest for Americans to enforce the same rule in their house of senators. Only then would they realize how corrupt their government has become. Only then would they come to realize why Israel must be supported at all costs. Remember, history always repeats it self. Some day Americans will become frustrated enough to cut all ties to the scavenger that is using American blood for their own gain.
No more donations from me since you will not show my comments.
30 billion dollars. Would 500 million be enough to build a nice large new hospital? That's sixty hospitals America could have had. Would 200 million dollars build a nice new high school? That's 120 new schools America could have had. How many miles of road would 30 billion dollars repave? Whatever the amounts, America is that much poorer by the loss. But these are only the tangible opportunity costs. The real costs – the emnity of the Arab and muslim world, plus instability in the mideast – are intangible. 9/11 for example probably wouldn't have happened without America's Israeli policies. This all goes to show the profoundly debilitating but unacknowledged cost of the Israeli connection to Americans.
Does the American Constitution allow for the Impeachment of a President who breaks EVERY single pledge he made whilst seeking election?
Obama has not only broken his promises but in fact done the very opposite of what he said he stood for during the election campaign.
Surely there must be some law to impeach the man before the whole world is plunged into oblivion?
they/them really must want "us/we U,i OO to start some sh_t of it's own design
Israel. The "friend" who keeps on taking….
"Ironically, though the US budget is spiraling out of control and America’s own debt continues to rise, there was no serious debate of reducing aid to Israel." Appalling. To vote in favor of this bill, especially when millions of Americans are suffering economically, was tantamount to high treason.
We need this money here! Regardless of what anyone thinks pro or con about Israel, the simple truth is that we can not afford this.
When it comes to the American people, Congress consistently says we can't spend the money. Not too long ago, Obama was telling everyone not to expect any help because we couldn't afford it. When it comes to Americans, we are told the deficit is too high and that we can't find the money to help our own citizens in the midst of the worst downturn in 80 years.
But, they find $3 billion a year to give to Israel?
How many failing bridges could that rebuild? If we gave that to the states, how many teacher lay-offs could we avoid. How many Americans denied health care could we have covered for that much? 44,000 Americans die each year because of lack of health insurance. But that doesn't seem to bother our government at all, because they instead send out money off to Israel.
Even if you don't believe the government shouldn't be helping Americans, then I'd guess you could easily believe that this money could have been given back to the taxpayers as tax cuts. Couldn't tax payers use a break right now?
We simply can not afford this. This is plain and simple the selling out of American workers and taxpayers to instead fund Israel. Whether you support Israel or not, the plain basic truth is that we can not afford this. We're broke and in trouble, and its long since time to start trying to take care of ourselves.
Good luck Israel. Hope you made some friends amongst your neighbors, because after nearly 40 years of paying for your security, we can't afford it any more and you'll have to take care of yourselves.
Love this part.
"The money is not a blank check, however. The US requires that Israel spend at least 75% of the money given in military aid with US military contractors, effectively using the foreign aid budget to subsidize domestic weapon-makers."
So Raytheyon et al don't get enough corporate welfare via Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen.
Is that Eisenhower i hear…
*shakes head*
"Ironically, though the US budget is spiraling out of control and America’s own debt continues to rise, there was no serious debate of reducing aid to Israel."
Cool Story, Bro! Pretty much says it all about our government's sense of priorities.
not so thrilled about this.
"I will bless those that bless thee and curse those that curse thee" The fact that in many ways the United States is not continuing to bless Israel is one of the greatest reasons why our nation is facing financial problems. Why does this article fail to talk about the millions of aide the U.S. gives to Muslim middle eastern nations. Why no outcry for how that money could be used for education. While these nations have received help in the past Obama is going even farther .http://paulmarcelrene.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/us-aid-to-muslim-countries/
So Israel continues to get more than the 3 billion annually. She gets from our Treasury even more in loans. Question: Do these loans get paid back? We've read many times NOT.
The entire world except for the US seems to be aware that giving to and supporting Israel in so many ways is not the right way to do things.
What has blinded so many of our politicians over the years? Just why do they act so insanely?
Paul Bradford
Carol Rae Bradford
Better to entitle the article something like "Obama approves $ 3000 billion in military aid to Israel over next millenium".
1000 billion in deficit and loosy 3 billion in aid yearly couldn't impress.
The best US policy would be to cancel aid to Israel and to arabian corrupted regimes (including PA) simultaneously, ASAP.
It would be extremely helpful for Israel, but it couldn't cure US economic sickness untill Obama and Dems would get that "they didn't built that", didn't built a one worthy thing in this great country.
Private initiative, business and independent private NGO built everything. Dems, be less greedy and more reasonable, please.