While the Middle East has always been a volatile region, the last month has seen events unfold in the region whose global impact we still may not appreciate. From the fall of governments in Lebanon, Tunisia, and Egypt, and with other Middle East regimes to soon share their fate, the balance of power in the Middle East is changing before our eyes.
However, the most significant revolution taking place in the Middle East right now may not have anything to do with what’s unfolded in those countries mentioned above. In fact, the greatest potential revolution about to unfold in the Middle East has its home in Washington D.C., courtesy of Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
Seriously.
Earlier this month, Rand Paul called for an end to US “welfare” to Israel, saying:
I’m not singling out Israel. I support Israel. I want to be known as a friend of Israel, but not with money you don’t have. We can’t just borrow from our kids’ future and give it to countries, even if they are our friends.
I think they’re an important ally, but I also think that their per capita income is greater than probably three-fourths of the rest of the world. Should we be giving free money or welfare to a wealthy nation? I don’t think so.
There are many problems with Israel accepting foreign aid from the United States, most notably among that them being that a country can not be both independent and dependent at the same time. By accepting foreign aid from United States, or any country for that matter, Israel is giving up her freedom to implement policies without foreign interference. Additionally, as we have mentioned before, not only does accepting foreign aid limit Israel’s independence, but it also is simply not economically smart, as a recent study by the Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies has shown that every dollar of US Aid costs Israel up to 1.4 dollars.
Rand Paul highlights two other problems with continued US foreign aid. to Israel. First, it is legitimate to ask whether or not the US can still afford the luxury of bestowing foreign aid – not just to Israel – but in general. While there are certainly benefits to the United States ‘giving of foreign aid, today it may be a luxury that the American people simply can no longer afford.
Second, historically one of the problems with welfare,is that often times those receiving it have no real incentive to ever get off of it.
Zionism, being the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, believes in a strong and free sovereign Jewish state; a state that lives within her means and earns whatever she has, through the industriousness and ingenuity of her citizens.
An article in Middle East Quarterly, entitled “End American Aid to Israel?: Yes, It Does Harm,” stated the following:
Arnon Gafny, who served as governor of the Bank of Israel in 1976-1981, points out that foreign aid has caused Israel to suffer from what economists call the “Dutch Disease,” a generous but temporary gift (such as oil or external aid) that brings short-term benefits but impairs a country’s long-term competitiveness.
It is very difficult to prove that a rich country’s bestowing bilateral aid on a poorer one actually helps the poorer economy.
In an paper published by the Hoover Institute of Standford University, entitled “Why Aid to Israel Hurts . . . Israelis,” Alvin Rubashka stated the following:
Free money is the scourge of Israel’s economy. It is the difference between a free, prosperous Israel and a statist, dependent Israel. Before U.S. aid began flowing, Israel’s economic performance rivaled that of the high-growth Asian Tigers. Since then, Israel’s growth rate has fallen by more than half.
Forcing Israel to provide for herself will not hurt Israel’s economy, but actually strengthen it, serving as an impetus for Israel to challenge herself to develop her economy and industry in new ways, because there would no longer be free handouts from Uncle Sam.
Rep. Ron Paul went one step further than his son, calling on the United States to end all foreign aid to the Middle East. This past week, Paul sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to all members of the House of Representatives entitled, “Stop buying friends overseas, save $6 billion!”
Borrowing money from China — or printing it out of thin air — to hand out overseas in [an] attempt to purchase friends has been a failing foreign policy, as we see most recently in Egypt where there is not even a government in place! We should seek friendly relations and trade overseas, but we cannot justify lavish gifts to foreign leaders when American taxpayers are increasingly feeling the pain of our economic crisis.
Again, the motivation for this amendment has little to do with Israel, and much to do with the current state of the United States economy, but should such an amendment be accepted, it would greatly benefit Israel.
While the United States spares no opportunity to speak of its desire to see peace in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and her neighbors, it has consistently – for her own interests – armed both sides of the conflict. While Israel may be the US’s single largest recipient of military aid in the region, the amount of US military aid going to Israel’s neighbors makes the amount Israel receives pale in comparison. (This is in addition to the US training a Palestinian army under the leadership of US General Keith Dayton).
Lastly, and perhaps cynically, one must ask the question of what exactly does Israel receive in return for being a US ally? Being a US ally didn’t help those in power in Tunisia, Lebanon and Egypt, who were all quickly abandoned by the US when the going got tough. And, the US is strongly considering voting in favor of a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israel for allowing Jewish growth within her historic homeland.
With friends like these…
It’s time for Israel to act according to the wisdom of former French Premier, Charles DeGaulle, who said that, “Countries do not have friends, they have interests.”
Every country in the world understands this, and acts according to this principle. It’s time Israel does the same.
Israel’s leading business publication, Globes, has called for Israel to do the same:
The time has come to bid goodbye to the military aid that the US extends to Israel, that generous package (currently worth $3 billion) that enables the Israeli taxpayer to share the cost of procuring equipment for the IDF with the US taxpayer. Israel should itself initiate the process of detachment from the Washington breast. It should be done gradually, on terms that will enable Israel to wean itself off this intoxicating milk, before the Americans take action, on their terms. Israel won’t collapse.
None of this is to say that the United States and Israel shouldn’t be allies. To the contrary, Israel should seek to have positive relationships with every country in the world – relationships based upon mutual respect, benefit and interest. in instances where Israel and another country may not see eye to eye, each will be free to act according to their own interests.
Ron Paul and Rand Paul, through looking out for the best interests of the United States, may be providing one of the greatest contributions to Zionism in quite some time.
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Wow. Great article. In this month of redemption, may Israel become free from the dependency on foreign aid.
You really need to understand Paul. He is NO FRIEND of Israel. Just because he makes one statement recently that we can understand doesn’t erase his years of attacks on Israel. Paul has called “Zionists” the biggest enemy of the US. He has condemned Israel for retaliatory strikes against Hamas yet refuses to condemn Hamas for their attacks on Israel. He has never once condemned the Palestinian illegal invaders for the crimes against Israel yet he has made derogatory statements against Israel for the so called bad treatment against the Palestinians. He has taken money and received support from some of the worst Anti-Semitic groups in the United States and absolutely refused to distance himself from them. In 1988 he appeared on the same stage with David Duke and others to condemn AIPAC, calling them a shadow government and promoting anti-Israel conspiracies. His writings from the 80s and 90s reveal a deep dislike for Israel.
Don’t be fooled by his recent triangulation when he is running for President. He is an old career politician who knows how to play the game.