Do you support giving tax-payer's money to Israel? If so, why?

[David Hume]

I support aids to Ukraine, because they cannot afford the cost to defend themselves against Russia. But Israel is different. They are rich enough compared to their enemy. While terrorists like Hamas must be eradicated, Israel is rich enough to afford that. And they are motivated enough to do it since it's their existential threat. Giving them money won't make them more motivated or more capable than needed. It just makes them pay less, at the cost of the U.S. tax-payers.

While it's true that Israel is an ally, it doesn't mean U.S. tax-payers have to fund their defense, when they can do it themselves. Israel needs U.S. more than U.S. needs Israel. Even if we don't fund them, they will still be an U.S. ally. Most of the U.S. vetos in the UN Security Counsel is about Israel. This is enough leverage for Israel.

3/4 of the money giving to Israel will be going to the military industry complex. So essentially the U.S. tax-payers are buying weapons from the military industry complex and giving them to Israel. I would prefer these money spent to address domestic issues, or simple reduce spending to reduce the inflation and national debt. The military industry complex would already get enough from the Ukraine aids.

[Oregon Eagle Politics]

No. Israel is wealthy, they can fund their own ethnic cleansing campaigns. No need for American taxpayers to shoulder the burden.

[Progressive Pessimist]

I did after October 7, as we'd do for any other ally, but Netanyahu is out of control and future aide should be conditioned based on working towards de-escalation with both Gaza and Iran.

[David Hume]

I did after October 7, as we'd do for any other ally, but Netanyahu is out of control and future aide should be conditioned based on working towards de-escalation with both Gaza and Iran.

You support giving money to any ally when they are under attack, regardless of whether they can afford to defend themselves?

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Most of the money we give to Israel is then used in our own defense sector, and it keeps our relationship with them tight so we get access to their exceptional R&D sector. There's a reason it has largely bipartisan support.

[OSR stands with Israel]

We provide deterrence against Iran . If Iran ever launched a full out attack against Israel , it could cause a WW1 European style war in the Middle East with Iran/Syria/Lebanon on one side and Israel/Egypt/Lebanon on the other .

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Absolutely not. Their life expectancies are 4.5 years longer than the US. Lets use that money to help Americans rather than to murder Palestinians.

[Meclazine for Israel]

The US should given triple to Israel than it does to Ukraine.

The US gets to test all the latest military systems - shooting down drone attacks with lasers - iron shield dome stuff - eradicating radical islamic terrorists - without laying a foot on the ground. Isreal do all the work.

The Navy budget of the US in 2024 will be US$212Bn, yet we don't see any naval attacks on Iran or plane dog fights. Nothing. It feels as though the Americans simply rock up and go on the defensive. That is bad for morale and no one will sign up for the defence forces if they can never do anything in an active war zone.

Israel will inevitably be drawn into a huge blue with Iran, and they will need US funding to exist.

[Rand]

That Israeli tough to answer…

[David Hume]

We provide deterrence against Iran . If Iran ever launched a full out attack against Israel , it could cause a WW1 European style war in the Middle East with Iran/Syria/Lebanon on one side and Israel/Egypt/Lebanon on the other .

This could be done without giving a single penny to Israel.

[David Hume]

Most of the money we give to Israel is then used in our own defense sector, and it keeps our relationship with them tight so we get access to their exceptional R&D sector. There's a reason it has largely bipartisan support.

As I addressed in OP,
1, defense sector already get enough money from the Ukraine aid
2, the relationship between US and Israel is tight enough. No additional tax payer's money is needed.

[David Hume]

The US should given triple to Israel than it does to Ukraine.

The US gets to test all the latest military systems - shooting down drone attacks with lasers - iron shield dome stuff - eradicating radical islamic terrorists - without laying a foot on the ground. Isreal do all the work.

The Navy budget of the US in 2024 will be US$212Bn, yet we don't see any naval attacks on Iran or plane dog fights. Nothing. It feels as though the Americans simply rock up and go on the defensive. That is bad for morale and no one will sign up for the defence forces if they can never do anything in an active war zone.

Israel will inevitably be drawn into a huge blue with Iran, and they will need US funding to exist.

Absolutely not. US can test all the latest military systems in Ukraine, or have Israel pay for it, or only give a small amount to Israel just to test it, etc, instead of letting US tax payers pay for Israel en mass.

On your third part, not giving Israel money makes them cautious not to escalate into an unnecessary all front war with Iran.

[politicallefty]

Not so long as Netanyahu is in power. Once he's gone, I'd definitely reconsider.

[Meclazine for Israel]

The US should given triple to Israel than it does to Ukraine.

The US gets to test all the latest military systems - shooting down drone attacks with lasers - iron shield dome stuff - eradicating radical islamic terrorists - without laying a foot on the ground. Isreal do all the work.

The Navy budget of the US in 2024 will be US$212Bn, yet we don't see any naval attacks on Iran or plane dog fights. Nothing. It feels as though the Americans simply rock up and go on the defensive. That is bad for morale and no one will sign up for the defence forces if they can never do anything in an active war zone.

Israel will inevitably be drawn into a huge blue with Iran, and they will need US funding to exist.

Absolutely not. US can test all the latest military systems in Ukraine, or have Israel pay for it, or only give a small amount to Israel just to test it, etc, instead of letting US tax payers pay for Israel en mass.

On your third part, not giving Israel money makes them cautious not to escalate into an unnecessary all front war with Iran.

You do raise a good point.

The great thing about giving arms to Ukraine is that the American companies make the arms, so essentially all the money stays in the US as jobs for military manufacturing.

[Dr. MB]

No, of course not. It's an indictment on our country and system that just by virtue of living in America we're funding war crimes.

[Brittain33]

No, of course not. It's an indictment on our country and system that just by virtue of living in America we're funding war crimes.

Is Iron Dome a war crime?

[Torie]

Biden should tie  a substantial portion of aid to Israel to the government not taking actions that seem to depreciate the lives of Palestinians, and not  take over Rafi, which evinces a disregard for the lives of Palestinians, along with Netanyahu’s rejection of a two state solution. Netanyahu is a bad actor who is  acting in a way that is inimical to American values.

[S019]

We have to aid them in their fight for survival. The United States cannot let Israel fall and should do all it can to prevent that.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Not unless Israel drastically changes its behavior and takes real steps toward a two states solution.

[certified hummus supporter 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

Hell no

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

They are nice people

[Pick Up the Phone]

If people are willing to give aid to Ukraine, giving it to Israel (a much closer ally and strategically far more important partner) should be a no-brainer.

On Netanyahu: He is the democratically elected prime minister and will be in power as long as the Israeli people want him to. This is none of the US’s business and certainly nothing that should affect its foreign policy in any way. Just like the rest of the world had to accept that the American people elected Donald Trump as its legitimate representative. (The same applies to Orbán, Erdogan, etc.)

[politicallefty]

If people are willing to give aid to Ukraine, giving it to Israel (a much closer ally and strategically far more important partner) should be a no-brainer.

On Netanyahu: He is the democratically elected prime minister and will be in power as long as the Israeli people want him to. This is none of the US’s business and certainly nothing that should affect its foreign policy in any way. Just like the rest of the world had to accept that the American people elected Donald Trump as its legitimate representative. (The same applies to Orbán, Erdogan, etc.)

I don't think that's right at all. These are not comparable issues. It's not the fact that Israel is electing someone we dislike. Part of it does come down to how he's prosecuting the war, which is entirely relevant in determining how military aid should be appropriated. The other matter comes down to the issue of respect. We're the f-cking superpower here. Show some f-cking respect. Most foreign leaders do, particularly when hat in hand in Washington. Zelenskyy certainly has. Netanyahu shows absolutely no respect for the United States.

[David Hume]

If people are willing to give aid to Ukraine, giving it to Israel (a much closer ally and strategically far more important partner) should be a no-brainer.

On Netanyahu: He is the democratically elected prime minister and will be in power as long as the Israeli people want him to. This is none of the US’s business and certainly nothing that should affect its foreign policy in any way. Just like the rest of the world had to accept that the American people elected Donald Trump as its legitimate representative. (The same applies to Orbán, Erdogan, etc.)

The rest of the world are not send aids to the US. If so, they completely have the right to make it conditional on Trump not being president.

UK is a closer ally than Israel, we are not send tax payers money to them, because they don't need it right now. Israel don't need it as well since they can afford it. Ukraine cannot.

Foreign aids should be need based scholarship. You have to be good enough to qualify for that, which Israel is not due to their inhumane treatment to Palestini. You have to be in real need, which Israel is not since they are rich enough to afford it.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

If people are willing to give aid to Ukraine, giving it to Israel (a much closer ally and strategically far more important partner) should be a no-brainer.

On Netanyahu: He is the democratically elected prime minister and will be in power as long as the Israeli people want him to. This is none of the US’s business and certainly nothing that should affect its foreign policy in any way. Just like the rest of the world had to accept that the American people elected Donald Trump as its legitimate representative. (The same applies to Orbán, Erdogan, etc.)

This makes little sense. We were not, and have not, been giving Ukraine billions every single year for decades now? I'm all in favor of Ukrainian aide, but I don't expect them to require it forever as is the current situation with Israel.

The arms industry is a scourge, and the allusions above about how 'Well, it's alright, they buy our weapons anyway' are morally bankrupt. The fact these insidious hydras have been allowed to metastasize with the rise of globalism and become everyday 'corporations' is even worse.

Humanitarian aide, and any aide we might have given as part of a single package of support after the terrorism of October 7th? More than likely.