We Should Reduce, but not Stop Aid to Israel – PLSC 359: Global Governance

To propose a complete cessation of US aid to Israel would not only be diplomatically imprudent but also counterintuitive to US interests in the region. To be clear, Israel has been a consistent US ally in a region of much geopolitical uncertainty. This is a constant that the US cannot afford to lose. But the sheer scope and scale of US military aid is not consistent with the values of democracy and justice that the US touts internationally.

Despite assurances made by Israel and a litany of unsuccessful agreements and talks, Israel has continued to encroach on Palestinian land. Every year habitable areas of Palestine have become scarcer as Israel continues forcing Palestinians out and building more settlements. These settlements have pushed Palestinians deeper into poverty and overcrowding. In addition, following Palestinian resistance during the onset of the 21^st Century, Israel withdrew from Gaza and constructed a large wall and naval brigade. This essentially turned Gaza into a segregated area separate from not only Israel, but from roads, jobs, and general freedom. Furthermore, protests from rock-wielding protesters have been met with Israeli soldiers firing live ammunition. Furthermore, Israeli troops have imprisoned and even tortured Palestinian captives. This obviously represents a paradox in US foreign policy. The US openly supports justice, fairness, and peace around the world, yet also supplies the bullets that Israeli troops have used to fire upon and suppress an entire group of people. By greatly decreasing military aid, the US will show that it does not condone certain actions of the Israeli military. Currently Israeli policy towards Palestinians has been one of containment and isolation instead of negotiation and openness. Renowned Israeli scholar Benedetta Berti describes, “In essence, the Israeli government has focused on managing the conflict with the Palestinians rather than solving it.” By decreasing aid, the US would show a commitment toward achieving greater solutions to the conflict and not simply containing and suppressing it.

Reducing the total amount of military aid to Israel the US would improve its overall safety and global image. Israel has become a sort of rentier state dependent upon military aid. If aid were reduced the US would show its commitment to justice and human rights, reduce threats from terrorists, and deal a blow to the stranglehold the Israeli lobby has over domestic politics. As of now, the conflict in the Levant is more affected by the hardline policies of the Israeli government than by Palestinians. Reducing aid would help bring balance to a region that so desperately needs it.

Kim says:

April 30, 2016 at 1:25 am

I applaud Zach for this blog post. Jordan has showed me many of the stories and points of view that are not portrayed in the American media such as the voice of the Palestinian people. Jordan is country that has a significant amount of Palestinian refugees as 60 percent of their population trace some sort of lineage to the encroached area.
I agree that Israel is a unique ally in the midst of the political storm of the Middle East but what truly struck me is the call to access our role as leaders of the international community when it comes to reducing arms that are used to harm a nation-less people.

Alec Silverman says:

April 30, 2016 at 3:39 am

This is a great post. The paternal side of my family can be pretty Zionist at times, with many dinner table conversations ending with my dad shouting that Hamas forces Israel’s actions by refusing to adopt the Two State proposal in the 1988 Hamas charter.

Amidst his shouting, he does make good points though. Israel is the lone democracy in the Middle East and our closest ally next to Saudi Arabia. Their fierce rhetoric criticizing calls for reduced aid from the US is rooted in their fear of constant attack from the Palestinians. The US supplied Israel with the Iron Dome defense system that intercepts thousands of projectiles from the Gaza Strip annually, among a plethora of other forms of financial aid.They’ve come to rely on us, I believe, and they are extremely slighted by the possibility of a change to America’s unwavering support for the Jewish state.

Daniel Connolly says:

April 30, 2016 at 9:28 pm

I definitely agree with Zach, Kim, and Alec on their positions on the Israel/Palestine situation. While Israel is obviously an extremely vital ally in the Middle East, that does not mean that the Israeli government can take advantage of this relationship and encroach on Palestinian land. Simply put, Israel would not be able to sustain its defense without United States aid and the threat of United States retaliation if the country is attacked, therefore if the U.S. aid were to decrease then the Israeli government would have to stop their aggression. Israel needs the United States more than the U.S. means Israel, which means the U.S. government should be able to decrease funding to the nation without repercussions.