Comments on: Bad News Rahm http://occidentalisraeli.com/2009/06/02/bad-news-rahm/ If you’d believe that, you’d be wrong. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:32:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: LB http://occidentalisraeli.com/2009/06/02/bad-news-rahm/comment-page-1/#comment-253 LB Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://occidentalisraeli.com/?p=1605#comment-253 <em>"Where though are the signs that the US will stop the bribing?"</em> Unfortunately, there aren't many. Back in 2005, Netanyahu (as Finance Minister) <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3084606,00.html" rel="nofollow">called for eliminating</a> most American aid within 3-4 years. But you're right, I don't see it happening anytime soon. I still support it wholeheartedly. There is also this guy from TAU (who includes <a href="http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3414215,00.html" rel="nofollow">the figure</a> of aid being only 4% of Israel's budget). I don't see the aid being stopped unilaterally by the U.S. at all. <strong>If </strong>it does happen, it will be most likely initiated by Israel, so I don't think it would be <em>"the first step towards real pressure," </em>but the other way around. “Where though are the signs that the US will stop the bribing?”

Unfortunately, there aren’t many. Back in 2005, Netanyahu (as Finance Minister) called for eliminating most American aid within 3-4 years. But you’re right, I don’t see it happening anytime soon. I still support it wholeheartedly. There is also this guy from TAU (who includes the figure of aid being only 4% of Israel’s budget).

I don’t see the aid being stopped unilaterally by the U.S. at all. If it does happen, it will be most likely initiated by Israel, so I don’t think it would be “the first step towards real pressure,” but the other way around.

]]> By: Gert http://occidentalisraeli.com/2009/06/02/bad-news-rahm/comment-page-1/#comment-252 Gert Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://occidentalisraeli.com/?p=1605#comment-252 Where though are the signs that the US will stop the bribing? There are no such signs. Israel would of course survive without the money, it's only a miniscule fraction of Israel's GDP. Interrupting the payments would have symbolic value and possible the first step towards real pressure. Can't see it happening though... Where though are the signs that the US will stop the bribing? There are no such signs. Israel would of course survive without the money, it’s only a miniscule fraction of Israel’s GDP. Interrupting the payments would have symbolic value and possible the first step towards real pressure. Can’t see it happening though…

]]> By: LB http://occidentalisraeli.com/2009/06/02/bad-news-rahm/comment-page-1/#comment-250 LB Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://occidentalisraeli.com/?p=1605#comment-250 If the Israeli government gladly accepts the money, all that means is that the bribes are working. And "tack"? I'm just expressing my own opinion the topic, as I have before <a href="http://occidentalisraeli.com/2008/09/30/in-support-of-israeli-independence/" rel="nofollow">here</a>, <a href="http://occidentalisraeli.com/2008/10/02/overpaying-for-american-money/" rel="nofollow">here</a>, <a href="http://occidentalisraeli.com/2008/10/23/head-back-on-shoulders/" rel="nofollow">here</a>, <a href="http://occidentalisraeli.com/2008/10/29/financial-crisis-to-inadvertently-help-israel/" rel="nofollow">here</a>, and <a href="http://occidentalisraeli.com/2009/05/21/oren-existential-threats-sovereignty/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. <em>"If they continue to show indifference to what effect their actions, specifically settlement expansions, have had on their supporters, they don’t deserve to have their 100% support."</em> So basically, if Israel refuses to do as it's told it doesn't deserve American support? Sounds a lot more like a patron-client relationship than an alliance to me. If the Israeli government gladly accepts the money, all that means is that the bribes are working. And “tack”? I’m just expressing my own opinion the topic, as I have before here, here, here, here, and here.

“If they continue to show indifference to what effect their actions, specifically settlement expansions, have had on their supporters, they don’t deserve to have their 100% support.”

So basically, if Israel refuses to do as it’s told it doesn’t deserve American support? Sounds a lot more like a patron-client relationship than an alliance to me.

]]> By: lena http://occidentalisraeli.com/2009/06/02/bad-news-rahm/comment-page-1/#comment-249 lena Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://occidentalisraeli.com/?p=1605#comment-249 So that's the tack now, to describe U.S. aid as "bribes." Sorry , but that's not going to wash, at least as long as Israel gladly accepts the aid. If they think they are being bribed, it's up to them to refuse such aid. If they continue to show indifference to what effect their actions, specifically settlement expansions, have had on their supporters, they don't deserve to have their 100% support. So that’s the tack now, to describe U.S. aid as “bribes.” Sorry , but that’s not going to wash, at least as long as Israel gladly accepts the aid. If they think they are being bribed, it’s up to them to refuse such aid. If they continue to show indifference to what effect their actions, specifically settlement expansions, have had on their supporters, they don’t deserve to have their 100% support.

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