Israel Radio-Reshet Bet

While IDF soldiers and officers certainly are personally brave in the face of the enemy, Israel's political leadership is indecisive and non-aggressive.I ask you: When in Israel's military history did its forces not attack and occupy enemy positions from where live fire was coming?
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Of, course, they are truthful about their ultimate goal of destroying Israel and committing genocide against its Jewish population.
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Sharon has already given the green light to Arafat, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, by his actions in not suppressing the war and destroying Israel's enemies.
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This would be a great victory of Arafat and justify his war against Israel.
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The Israeli response should be a deafening no. From experience of 56 years, we all know that the UN, its bodies, and all International Forces are biased against Israel and in the pocket to the Arabs.The only purpose of such a plan would be to diminish Israel's rightful sovereignty in the area.

7. Sharon's constant warnings and threats, for which he never acts, further reduce Israeli deterrence.

8. Allowing the news media to photograph teenagers throwing stones is bad for Israel's image.
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10. Israel must annex immediately all of YESHA.Then the Palestinians must be told that those who engage in hostile activity against Israel will be expelled from the country.
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You will go when Israel is Judenrein.You'll go when They are all dead.Oh beast, oh mighty beast of prey.It is We, the people of Israel, who are They.

ISRAPUNDIT - August 13, 2004

WHY DO WE SUPPORT ISRAEL?

Does The Average American Understand What's At Stake?
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The United States and Israel have many mutual political interests.Ethical and altruistic considerations aside, this is the primary impetus behind international alliances.I do love Israel, and I am proud that my nation is Israel's best friend, but I know that it's not for purely noble reasons.Geopolitical maneuvering and backroom deals are part and parcel of the international political landscape.However, so long as such practical matters of utility are necessary, I am very glad that such a fortuity has brought our two nations and peoples together.As an average citizen, I don't need to understand in great detail every facet of our complex relationship with Israel, but I've learned that the Jews of Israel have much in common with us culturally, politically, and economically.I consider them to be my brothers and sisters, and I can't imagine not having Israel as our friend.Sadly, not all Americans understand this special bond.

I've noticed over the years how many of Israel's most ardent critics here in the U.S. decry the amount of foreign aid that the United States gives to Israel (this year's estimate is about $2.7 billion, down from last year's $3.7 billion).It seems to be their favorite point of criticism because it is a hard, established number.One also notes how a lot of these same people are of the opinion that the "Palestinians" are engaged in a legitimate conflict against an aggressive occupying force, and so they take issue with the fact that much of the assistance provided to Israel from the U.S. is in the form of military aid (about 80% this year).I have heard on more than one occasion the mournful plaint, "I don't know about you, but I don't like knowing that my tax dollars are being used to fund the military of a country that kills children."Of course, the fact that Israel is only trying to protect its own children -- all too often from these same Arab children -- is wholly lost on these people.I won't comment right now on the implicit value judgments in such selective affinities.

Personally, I would support Israel no matter what.It's abundantly clear to me that it is only just to do so.Not all of my fellow citizens get that, though.So I'd like to make a more practical and compelling case for why the United States should and must support Israel.

To begin with we are both democratic states trying to maintain order and stability in a disorderly world which sometimes has all the stability of a drunkard on stilts.Interestingly, many of Israel's American detractors don't seem to consider just how little the United States gets in return for its aid to other states in the same region as Israel.Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and the Palestinian Authority together receive U.S. aid comparable to that of Israel, which is in large part, to placate them.Egypt is basically paid not to attack Israel.If one looks into the matter at all, it becomes clear that Israel actually earns its U.S. foreign aid, and then some.The double standard employed by Israel's American critics in this matter is somewhat disturbing.This article is an appeal to my fellow Americans who do not understand why it is not only moral, but also imperative for the United States to do its part to ensure Israel's welfare, and indeed, survival.

Among the most important assets that Israel provides the U.S. with in return for financial assistance are:

-- invaluable intelligence information: The war on terror is a euphemistic title which really means "the war on Islamofascism."Israel is on the front lines of this war every day, and has been for some time now.Rabid antisemitism is more or less de rigueur in Arab/Muslim society, accounting for some of the hatred fueling the terror.Israel is also despised for bringing democracy, success, and the rule of law to an area which knows very little about such things.In the hate-polluted and culturally stagnant waters that are modern Arab/Muslim affairs, Israel has been the local target of choice for the irrational fury of Islamic terror.As a consequence, Israel has excelled at combating terror like no other nation on Earth.

A crucial part of neutralizing Islamic terror is having good, actionable intelligence.Useful and current data needs to be gathered and properly analyzed before it can be acted on.Since Arabic is one of Israel's official languages, Israeli agents are on the ball with electronic, on-the-ground, and print intelligence.They've got agents all over the Arab world.And since 9/11, U.S. intelligence agents and special operations soldiers have begun to pay especial attention to the Israeli playbook, because Israel knows better than anyone how to fight fourth generation warfare.We've participated in joint exercises with Israel in spheres of warfare that are somewhat alien to us, since we haven't had to deal with vicious criminals trying to blow up our kids every day.To be frank, we are pretty damn fortunate to have Israel's expertise to help guide us in these matters.Now more than ever, America needs this sort of tutelage and intelligence support.In my book, that's worth about a billion.

-- technological/economic gains: Not only does Israel easily rank among the world's elite in intelligence gathering and analysis, but its citizens are brilliant and highly educated.Beyond the cultural Jewish spirit for excellence, they have the incentive to succeed in unique ways economically because of Israel's scant natural resources.So, Israelis have tapped into their greatest and most reliable resource: themselves.In fifty-six short years, Israel has accomplished what many nations haven't been able to do in centuries.With a driving demand for survival and success against all odds, Israelis developed an energetic and ambitious entrepreneurial enthusiasm.

This attitude has helped to propel Israel to world leadership in the fields of medicine, scientific research (many disciplines), agriculture, telecommunications, high-tech electronics & software (the country's leading industrial sector), and more recently, the biotechnology industry.To quote industrialist Efi Arazi, "Israel now has a critical mass in high technology that is far ahead of anything in Europe."The United States is deeply involved in many of these enterprises and derives enormous benefits from Israel's unrivaled supremacy in many of these fields.And of course, many American businesses will be given preferential treatment in securing joint venture contracts for Israeli projects.Many Americans have no idea how many Israeli contributions are part of our life.The drug Copaxone, which gives hope to those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, was developed by Israelis at the Weizmann Institute.ICQ instant messaging was invented by four young Israelis in their twenties, and bought by AOL.Israel's drip irrigation systems save between 40-50% of water usage, while giving a 300% return in crop increase.Israel's innovation and supreme industrial feats confer massive benefits to their economy and to America's.Another billion here, I'd say.

-- a democratic presence in the Middle East: I think it's pretty hard to put a price on this, especially when considering the totalitarian states in that area whose people hate America and the west.Having moved past its strategic role as America's democratic foothold in the Middle East against the "Red Menace" of Soviet Russia, Israel is now viewed by some to be our bulwark against the area's "Green Menace" of militant Islam.I don't personally believe that Islam will ever be an insuperable threat to western civilization.I optimistically like to think that we'll (all) eventually deal with it, if for no other reason than to save ourselve