Netanyahu has not driven Israel into its current dead end alone. For years his settlement project and Iran policies were given cover by AIPAC, America’s pro-Israel lobby; the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; the American Jewish Committee; and knee-jerk supporters in both the Republican and Democratic Parties.
And unfortunately, I don’t think President Biden fully understands his “old friend” Bibi, whose government is the first to ever formally declare annexation of the West Bank as its goal and actually tried to strip the Supreme Court of its power to stop it.
For months, the Biden team has beseeched Netanyahu to articulate a post-Gaza vision that would involve Palestinian and Arab control over Gaza and a long-term pathway to demilitarized Palestinian statehood — so that the United States is not facilitating an Israeli occupation of Gaza, along with the West Bank — and to pave the way for a U.S.-Saudi security pact that could also produce normalized relations between Israel and the Saudis.
Netanyahu has said no to all of it. He did, though, show his gratitude to Biden by having his parliamentary majority give Elise Stefanik, a hack Republican congresswoman with no foreign policy standing whatsoever — and a person groveling to become Donald Trump’s vice president — the extraordinary honor of giving an address Sunday in the Knesset, where she slammed the U.S. president and praised Trump.
@DunbirdArielLibertarian2wks2W
What is the compelling National Interest for us (US) in this whole thing?
Why do we spend an enormous amount of our national attention, international goodwill, our treasure and our materiel, helping this *foreign* country?
I want my country to act like a real superpower. Not to be wagged by the Israeli dog, so we have the resources, focus, the money and the materiel to face our real challenges - like a rising, belligerent China.
While we squander our treasure, materiel, focus, and goodwill on a tiny country with half-a-trillion GDP, we are getting our lunch eaten by a mega-country with a GDP of 18 Trillion, and growing fast!
How is the focus on Israel in our national interest?
It is in the interest of our politicians (of both parties), but how is it in the interest of the rest of ordinary tax paying, law abiding citizens?
The US federal budget is more $6 trillion. The $3 billion we spend on Israel is 0.05% of it. Not even a rounding error. Your intense concern over our "treasure" may be driven by something other than arithmetic.
"It is in the interest of our politicians (of both parties)".
I know what you're insinuating but why are you afraid to just come right out and say it?
@V0lunteerClamNo Labels2wks2W
I get where you're coming from but it's not only about Israel itself--- it's about the whole Arab region, which when taken altogether could be a security fiasco on par with "belligerent China" if not dealt with. And Israel is a focal point in the region. A Middle East in perpetual chaos and endless "death to America" sentiment is not good for the United States.
Frankly, my patience with the whole Middle East **** show had worn out years ago. How many decades has this been going on? Now that we're an "energy independent" country, America should consider drawing a line around the entire Middle East and just say to those countries you're on your own to figure things out, and please don't draw America back into your endless disputes.
@CurlewDennySocialist2wks2W
Anybody else out there tired of Netanyahu extending his power over our elections? Enough already, stop sending him our tax dollars.
Personally, I am heart-broken by the tragedy unfolding there.
However, the U.S. is staring down the barrel of a gun with the possible re-election of Trump and what that might mean for the future of democracy.
The looming election definitely affects the dynamics of how Biden handles the albatross around his neck that Gaza has become, and I personally think he is doing the best that could be expected under the circumstances.
At this point it really has to be up to the Israeli people to make their choice – which is either to throw the corrupt Netanyahu out of office, or live with the consequences of being a global pariah never at peace.
As an American *** I never foresaw the possibility that Israel would become a pariah state, led by someone who in my opinion is rightly accused by the international community of committing war crimes. But here we are. Netanyahu has squandered the moral authority that Israel rightfully had, for no strategic gain.
Israel's early leaders, towering moral figures, are shaking in anger in their graves. And many of us in the U.S. are shaking our heads in disgust, watching a tragedy unfold and a former beacon of hope turn into a theocractic dictatorship.
@9MNPXND2wks2W
Zionist need to be ousted from American politics so we will not be forced into another pointless conflict in the middle east.
Biden has been played the fool by Netanyahu. Netanyahu has extracted everything he needs from Biden while also helping to lay the groundwork for a Biden defeat and a Trump victory.
@F4irTradeMuesliGreen2wks2W
I knew Netanyahu was putting Biden in a box and looking forward to having Trump back the day Biden gave Netanyahu the hug.
I also knew Netanyahu was against the US when he snubbed President Obama to and gave a speech to Congress that he arranged with the Republicans.
He wants our money and wants to manipulate our politics for his benefit. He is no better than Putin.
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
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