Us to send 17.6billion to Israel

[EasterIssland]

17.6 billion would include funds to help replenish Israel's missile defense systems, procure additional advanced weapons systems, and produce artillery and other munitions

why
why does Israel need so much money if they’re such a successful country
why Israel? Why not any other country?
What benefit does usa get from funding a conflict ?

can anyone explain why does usa keep on aiding Israel when this money could save many lives around the world?

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-house-panel-recommends-176-billion-military-aid-israel-2024-02-03/

I don’t agree with this. Taking into account that some states of USA don’t support gay rights , that the racism in many of the states is high , I very much doubt the politicians care much about the lives of those living miles away. I do think this is as another poster has said it’s politics = power = money

Are you serious? Do you have any idea of how many US facilities there are in the Middle East. They are absolutely everywhere, I'm pretty sure Iran doesn't have bases in Mexico, they were even trying to get the Greek Government to allow them to use the Greek Islands which was breaking an agreement between Greece and Turkey, not sure what happened about that

Part of the issue is Palestinians are desperate for aid!!

Good points @WatTyler

Great news! The west us finally taking a vocal stand against terrorism

"... as does every civilised person and country"

I would disagree with classing anyone supporting the horrendous crimes against the Palestinian people as being "civilised"

State governments are different to the national/federal government. Yes there is a nasty resurgent right in america. Biden does not support them. I was talking about Israel anyway.

What happens if Israel has a ceasefire? Hamas have said they have no intention of upholding one at all and no interest in 2 states? So, when you say permanent the only result is that you are saying to Israel that if Hamas, Hezbollah or anyone else attacks them, which they will, they have to let them do so and can't retaliate. Is there any other way of reading the demand for a 'permanent ceasefire'?

Im struck by your comment on Biden taking his eye off the ball. Im NOT criticising you but I do think its interesting how the world expects america to police the world when it suits them but maintains it is the most evil of colonialists when it does. I mean all these people suddenly consumed with a moralistic passion for gazan children also took their eye off the ball too, right?

It’s amazing isn’t it. The total distain for America….. blamed when they ‘interfere’ and blamed when they don’t.

The reality is that the world is shifting towards another ‘superpower’ vs ‘superpower’ stand off (at least I hope it’s a stand off and nothing more)

Russia and China are forging an anti-western alliance because the rulers of those countries have no intention whatsoever of allowing their countries to become democracies. Post Arab spring, Iran has become essential to them in this aim so they have basically bought it. They are buying up most of Africa - see South African support for Hammas but also the Silk Road initiative, there a multiple countries in Africa who are now so much in debt to China that they can never ever pay what they owe back - and Russia is now chipping away at Eastern European leaders with similar intentions (Belarus, Hungary, Slovenia) who have leaders pushing more towards autocratic states. Endogan is currently changing the constitution in Turkey to make it less and less possible for anyone other than himself or his named successor to win.
America is the ONLY country with the money and tech to at least hold these fuckers a bay. Europe is weak, divided and pretty much broke. America needs allies especially in Israel which is strategically vital. So they’ll fund them even if they don’t like this particular Israeli government. And little bitty UK should be fucking grateful they will and do because we are fucked if it wasn’t for the US trying to limit this hideous rise of right wing, autocratic states that are growing across the world.

@Zipidydodah spot on. And, as ever noone gives a shit about Africa and Africans in this jostling. There are children there too being raped, murdered, kidnapped but no marches for them.

I agree @Zipidydodah - it's horrifying and I can't believe that people don't see this happening.

How anyone in the UK or any other western democracy can support Hamas is baffling to me - they don't just hate, but want to destroy our way of life, women are definitely not seen as equal and they'd happily strip away all our rights. Never mind LGB rights (no idea of their views of the T).

Plus they're so hypocritical given their mansions and money in Qatar etc.

Russia and China want world domination and they don't have their citizens interests at heart at all. Cannon fodder & no respect for life with dissent met with jail / murder. Just awful.

Powerful countries support their allies.

As the only true democracy in the Middle East, and an adversary of America’s enemy Iran, Israel is a key strategic & geopolitical ally of the US. The Jewish lobby is also very influential in US politics.

Stating that what the Israeli government is doing to the Palestinian people does not equal supporting Hamas. So many people seem to be deliberately not understanding this vital fact.

Actually Hamas has stated a permanent ceasefire is what they wish to happen

Only once they have wiped out Israel.

BackandForthRoundandRound
I agree … but as PP points out what would you have any Israeli govt do? The other side Palestine/Hamas are backed by Iran (and by default) China & Russia and have stated that they will continue to attack Israel until it is no more. Why do you think israel has the ‘iron dome’ …. it’s because they had rocket attacks daily from all surrounding countries. A ceasefire requires two sides to agree.

theconfidenceofwho
I don’t think people realise just how dangerous a position we are in. Just because Russia /China aren’t going to invade the UK doesn’t mean they can’t literally bankrupt us. I’m astounded by the amount of people who say that we should ‘not get involved’ etc. Once Russia has retaken the Eastern European states either politically by creating allies and supporting the roll back of democracy or by force - see Ukraine and China had finished buying up every African & South America countries resource, how can people not see that they will just economically bankrupt us by restricting access to resources and buy selling at favourable rates to allies. But the British public don’t know or care ….so yes evil Americans supporting evil Israel.

Israel is a key American ally in the region, and it became even more important when the Iranians overthrew the Shah.
not entirely true , historically if you go back to the first coup in the 50s and then again the Islamic revolution in 79, the U.K. , US an France facilitated the both revolutions to protect their Oil interest in the region, Carter did not want to accept the shah in the US and reluctantly did so, he wanted to establish diplomatic relations with the new Iranian regime, in-fact Khomeni was living in France at that time and came to Teheran on a charted Air France flight.
DF was heavily involved in the events of 79,
he still says that The US has no allies or true friends and will dispose of you when you are no longer needed.

Israel have said plenty too, none of it anything to be proud of either. Both sides will be mouthy of course. But both sides know it has to end at some point and a future must be found that works. The rest of the world has a responsibility to insist on this. Can either side be trusted? Well they will have to be closely monitored won’t they?
Anyway what’s the alternative?

@MissyB1 I'm not sure why this is addressed to me. Obviously there are only 2 options - 1 side obliterates the other or there is a diplomatic settlement. The latter is I hope, the outcome . I was questioning the naive and disingeuous 'permanent ceasefire now' position which keeps being shouted, with absolutely no attempt at an explanation of how that is to be achieved. There is an encouraging piece in the times today about various ME states being prepared to move such negotiations along (from an American negotiator). Of course, there was a ceasefire and Saudi Arabia was normalising relations with Israel when Hamas decided to attack Israel. The absolute horror of 7/10 was a bit more than 'being mouthy'. It was very much putting words into action.

I'm an American and I'm against sending $$ to Israel. Israel is wealthy enough and technologically advanced enough that they don't need our money.

I'm also against sending $$ to Ukraine. That war is Europe's problem.

There has to be a permanent ceasefire as soon as possible surely? Who would not want that? Well obviously Israel don’t seem to, but that’s where the pressure from the rest of the world must come in. I believe Hamas would agree if the deal for the future was right. They have already offered to return all hostages who have survived the bombing in return for a permanent ceasefire. All of this needs speeding up and Israel need to be made to understand it’s going to happen. They won’t be happy but tough, the slaughter has to stop. Stopping billions of $$$ from USA might focus minds a little.

Iran already has the backing of China and Russia, therefore Israel cannot afford to cut ties with the US and leave itself isolated. The US does not need to spend these ridiculous sums of Aid to secure a relationship with Israel, a country which is already rich and has a mature weapons industry. Withdrawing it could very well force Israel to be more circumspect in its dealings with Palestine, allowing it to strengthen its ties with other ME nations who are not aligned with Iran.

The US meanwhile could cease participating in the weakening of the UN (not entirely its fault), strengthen its relationship with countries in the global south and loosen the foothold of the other great powers.

I mean all these people suddenly consumed with a moralistic passion for gazan children
A moralistic passion? What do you mean by this?
I am consumed by disgust at that at least 10 000 children have died, that women have c-section without pain killers, that they are watching their children die through starvation or being buried under rubble.
I am consume by disgust that what I see is happening to these people on a daily basis.
My disgust is not sudden. I follow what the Israeli government has done to the Palestinians for years. I never thought they would dare to do what they are doing now. I was wrong.
The USA and the UK have blood on their hands.

Yes if course there has to be a permanent ceasefire but that only happens with a deal.Sorry, I must have missed Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire - could you point me to the information on that? The last I heard was Hamas rejecting 2 potential deals. Thanks