Time to cut Israel off

[Anonymous]

AIPAC should be registered as a foreign agency that lobbies on behalf of a foreign country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason the U.S. should support Israel is because it is a democratic country in the Middle East who contributes to the greater good. What other democratic country in that region is there?

Denicracy for half of the people is not democracy, is it?

This is part of the major problem. "Our" definition of democracy does not have to be the same everywhere. That is a struggle for the cistizens of that country to battle without influence by us. What would we say if they tried to impose their beliefs on our social norms and customs, our democracy. Right or wrong, its not our battle to fight. The ladies Saudi Arabia are putting up a fight, in Bahrain its not a big issue...they have to come to resolve these issues on their own.

In other words, just write the big check, and stay the hell out of their business? Allow then to define democracy in whatever flexible way they please?

Sorry, that's a little naive. Other than Afghanistan and Iraq (for obvious reasons) Israel received more foreign aid from the US than any other country (according to 2009 figures). It receioves more US foreign aid per capita than any other nation. It's not like it's a third world nation, either. It's entirely appropriate to raise questions about human rights violations given our level of support.

Right, see the post immediately above yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason the U.S. should support Israel is because it is a democratic country in the Middle East who contributes to the greater good. What other democratic country in that region is there?

Denicracy for half of the people is not democracy, is it?

This is part of the major problem. "Our" definition of democracy does not have to be the same everywhere. That is a struggle for the cistizens of that country to battle without influence by us. What would we say if they tried to impose their beliefs on our social norms and customs, our democracy. Right or wrong, its not our battle to fight. The ladies Saudi Arabia are putting up a fight, in Bahrain its not a big issue...they have to come to resolve these issues on their own.

Well then I guess all "democracies" are equal. By that measure, Libya, Egypt, Syria, and Israel are all the same. We should call them democracies and not try to influence them.

[Anonymous]

So, from what I just read through these posts, if the US cut off aid to Israel, you would all be content? I would venture to say that even if the US eliminated their 3B in annaul foreign aid to Israel, this board would still be the same, if not more, anti-Israel. Frankly, I'm always amazed that whenever Israel is in this press, or Netanyahu says something, this board goes nuts. But if the opposite happens? crickets. The rockets fired at a school bus in April? Nothing. The 5 member Israeli family that was stabbed to death in March? Nothing. The bus bomb at the central bus station a couple months ago? Nothing.

I will not even refute some of the idiocy, hate, vitriol, and ugliness I have seen spewed on this site against Israel. It is, unfortunately, frivolous to even argue or question these posters. If you support Israel, you will be made out to be a pariah on DCUM. And I think that makes many posters on DCUM very, very happy.

[Anonymous]

Israel has done more for world peace than we can ever know by attacking nuclear reactor sites in Iraq (1981) and Syria (2007).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, from what I just read through these posts, if the US cut off aid to Israel, you would all be content? I would venture to say that even if the US eliminated their 3B in annaul foreign aid to Israel, this board would still be the same, if not more, anti-Israel. Frankly, I'm always amazed that whenever Israel is in this press, or Netanyahu says something, this board goes nuts. But if the opposite happens? crickets. The rockets fired at a school bus in April? Nothing. The 5 member Israeli family that was stabbed to death in March? Nothing. The bus bomb at the central bus station a couple months ago? Nothing.

I will not even refute some of the idiocy, hate, vitriol, and ugliness I have seen spewed on this site against Israel. It is, unfortunately, frivolous to even argue or question these posters. If you support Israel, you will be made out to be a pariah on DCUM. And I think that makes many posters on DCUM very, very happy.

This seems like pretty much a straw man. I don't recall the leader of Hamas being invited to the White House and saying in advance what he expected the President would do for him, and I don't recall our giving $3 billion in aid to the terrorists who committed those shameful acts you cite either. Frankly it's the attitude of Israel, and its hardcore supporters (demonstrated on this board) that invites this kind of attention-- they believe Israel is entitled to our full support (financial, diplomatic, military, etc) and they have no obligation in return to listen to us or moderate their behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, from what I just read through these posts, if the US cut off aid to Israel, you would all be content? I would venture to say that even if the US eliminated their 3B in annaul foreign aid to Israel, this board would still be the same, if not more, anti-Israel. Frankly, I'm always amazed that whenever Israel is in this press, or Netanyahu says something, this board goes nuts. But if the opposite happens? crickets. The rockets fired at a school bus in April? Nothing. The 5 member Israeli family that was stabbed to death in March? Nothing. The bus bomb at the central bus station a couple months ago? Nothing.

I will not even refute some of the idiocy, hate, vitriol, and ugliness I have seen spewed on this site against Israel. It is, unfortunately, frivolous to even argue or question these posters. If you support Israel, you will be made out to be a pariah on DCUM. And I think that makes many posters on DCUM very, very happy.

This seems like pretty much a straw man. I don't recall the leader of Hamas being invited to the White House and saying in advance what he expected the President would do for him, and I don't recall our giving $3 billion in aid to the terrorists who committed those shameful acts you cite either. Frankly it's the attitude of Israel, and its hardcore supporters (demonstrated on this board) that invites this kind of attention-- they believe Israel is entitled to our full support (financial, diplomatic, military, etc) and they have no obligation in return to listen to us or moderate their behavior.

Frankly, I'm shocked you would even mention the terrorist leader of Hamas being invited to the White House and compare him to the leader of Israel. Although I think Israel does need to be more open to negotiations of peace, I can understand why their leaders have been "on their guard" and distrusting of their neighbors. Hamas' charter openly states a goal to replace Israel and the Palestinian Territories with an Islamic Palestinian state. And, yes, many Americans think that Israel is special because of all that the Jewish people have endured through the years and their unique relationship with God.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, from what I just read through these posts, if the US cut off aid to Israel, you would all be content? I would venture to say that even if the US eliminated their 3B in annaul foreign aid to Israel, this board would still be the same, if not more, anti-Israel. Frankly, I'm always amazed that whenever Israel is in this press, or Netanyahu says something, this board goes nuts. But if the opposite happens? crickets. The rockets fired at a school bus in April? Nothing. The 5 member Israeli family that was stabbed to death in March? Nothing. The bus bomb at the central bus station a couple months ago? Nothing.

I will not even refute some of the idiocy, hate, vitriol, and ugliness I have seen spewed on this site against Israel. It is, unfortunately, frivolous to even argue or question these posters. If you support Israel, you will be made out to be a pariah on DCUM. And I think that makes many posters on DCUM very, very happy.

You are wrong, there are posters who wrote about that family that was stabbed to death. http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/155811.page
There were a lot of posts about Helen Thomas' comments critical of her.
There are a lot of posts on the War in Gaza thread which are supportive of Israel
There weremany pro-Israeli points of view expressed on the blockade.

If I were generous, I would say you have selective hearing. But I expect that you think that any criticism of Israel equals hatred of Israel. In that case, I suggest that you spend time with Israelis. I know a few hundred, and they do not hold back, not one bit. Or read Haaretz.

About a year ago, I started a thread titled "Is Israel turning into a Liability for the U.S?" http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/109596.page The topic is very close to this one, and I would expect that you believe it to be anti-Israeli of me to post such a thing. Unless of course you read the article included. Then you would see that my topic merely reflected the thoughts of Meir Dagan, the head of the Mossad, who had recently addressed a committee of the Knesset. In that meeting he said "Israel is gradually turning from an asset to the United States to a burden"

Nothing is undiscussable within Israel. Nothing should be here, either.

And there it is. Israel is gradually turning from an asset to the United States to a burden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Frankly, I'm shocked you would even mention the terrorist leader of Hamas being invited to the White House and compare him to the leader of Israel. Although I think Israel does need to be more open to negotiations of peace, I can understand why their leaders have been "on their guard" and distrusting of their neighbors. Hamas' charter openly states a goal to replace Israel and the Palestinian Territories with an Islamic Palestinian state. And, yes, many Americans think that Israel is special because of all that the Jewish people have endured through the years and their unique relationship with God.

Holy crap-- are we really going to base U.S. policy on who supposedly has the best relationship with God? Next are you going to tell me that we need to protect Israel because it's the first step toward Armageddon and the Second Coming?

[Anonymous]

Please tell us again why we need to support Israel in it's endeavors? They can do whatever they want but why should the do it on our dime. Take that 3b and give it to people in OUR inner cities.

[Anonymous]

do all the jew haters and israel haters remember what america did to the jewish people trying to escape from nazi Germany when they tried to land on American shores? Sent the boats away!

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:do all the jew haters and israel haters remember what america did to the jewish people trying to escape from nazi Germany when they tried to land on American shores? Sent the boats away!

Do you know what Israel did to the USS Liberty? Attacked and nearly sunk it. Are we going to have a history lesson now or do you want to discuss the topic at hand?

[Anonymous]

Oh I see, ask if the US should continue aid to Israel and you hate Jews?

[Anonymous]

I was chatting at a party with a friend's Israeli brother in law who was visiting last year and he mentioned somewhat derisively that our roads look "like a third-world country's."
Which I agreed with--with the potholes and the cracks our roads do look pretty terrible.

But now it occurs to me that since they have such better roads than we do they don't need our money. I'm not anti-Israel or antisemitic (DH is Jewish). I just don't care about their problems anymore than that of any other country that's thousands of miles away. We have enough problems of our own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:do all the jew haters and israel haters remember what america did to the jewish people trying to escape from nazi Germany when they tried to land on American shores? Sent the boats away!

Did they land on the boats from helicopters and start shooting?