Why are we still backing the Israelis?

Question

World War II is over, they have their own country & they are doing a great job of protecting themselves. There was a big peace treaty when Carter was in office. I guess I must be naive, but I don't understand why this country continues to support the Israelis when they have not been completely innocent in all of these years, either. I am not in any way anti-Semetic - the question would be the same regardless of the country involved.

After posting: Thanks for all answers they are very thought-provoking and I would like to do further research on this issue to be better informed. I am sorry for the one answer that did blame the infiltration of Jews into the United States - this is not a question to validate any Nazi-type theories. Thanks,again.

Answer 1

The simlest answer is arms=$. They also provide a safe place to launch troops and planes to other countries, i.e Iraq, Iran, etc. My feeling is we should stop selling arms and the means to make war to any nation, allied or not. You must also understand that these nations have been at war since pre-Biblical times. The Isrealites vs. the world is not a modern concept, nor is war in the middle east. As long as anyone lives there, there will be conflict.

Answer 2

Three Takes:
1: Radical Christian leadership. They are mostly born again types. Previous administrations made attempts to cater to both sides. This one does not.

2: They are essentially a U.S. proxy state. All those warplanes are U.S. F-16's and similar that are paid for by the U.S., fueled by the U.S. and armed by the U.S. If they get too out of line and embarass us too much on the world stage, we will do away with their proxy status. But it would take a lot plus I think it would have to be a different government in the U.S. before that would happen.

3: There is and will continue to be an ongoing attempt to make them into a legit state. They have been around for a while now so it may be time for the arab states to accept them and for Palestinans to forget about lost ancestral lands but ... good luck on that happening. It is begining to look a little like blaming a 21st century white guy for 19th century black slavery but some people still do. There is rioting in Watts but no self-respecting white guy will accept responsiblity for the problem. I think it is kind of the same thing there. People that were essentially disenfranchised a long time ago and keep acting out. Israelis and U.S. are like ... we don't care.

Answer 3

There are 21 Arab countries in the Middle East and only one
Jewish state: Israel, which is also the only democracy in the region.

Israel is the only country in the region that permits citizens
of all faiths to worship freely and openly. Twenty percent of Israeli
citizens are not Jewish.

While Jews are not permitted to live in many Arab countries,
Arabs are granted full citizenship and have the right to vote in Israel.
Arabs are also free to become members of the Israeli parliament (the
Knesset). In fact, several Arabs have been democratically elected to the
Knesset and have been serving there for years. Arabs living in Israel have
more rights and are freer than most Arabs living in Arab countries.

Israel is smaller than the state of New Hampshire and is
surrounded by nations hostile to her existence. Some peace
proposals-including the recent Saudi proposal-demand withdrawal from the
entire West Bank, which would leave Israel 9 miles wide at its most
vulnerable point.

The oft-cited UN Resolution 242 (passed in the wake of the 1967
war) does not, in fact, require a complete withdrawal from the West Bank. As
legal scholar Eugene Rostow put it, "Resolution 242, which as undersecretary
of state for political affairs between 1966 and 1969 I helped produce, calls
on the parties to make peace and allows Israel to administer the territories
it occupied in 1967 until 'a just and lasting peace in the Middle East' is
achieved. When such a peace is made, Israel is required to withdraw its
armed forces 'from territories' it occupied during the Six-Day War-not from
'the' territories nor from 'all' the territories, but from some of the
territories."

Israel has, of course, conceded that the Palestinians have
legitimate claims to the disputed territories and is willing to engage in
negotiations on the matter. As noted above, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Barak offered almost all of the territories to Arafat at Camp David in 2000.

Despite claims that the Israeli settlements in the West Bank are
the obstacle to peace, Jews lived there for centuries before being massacred
or driven out by invading Arab armies in 1948-49. And contrary to common
misperceptions, Israeli settlements-which constitute less than two percent
of the territories-almost never displace Palestinians.

The area of the West Bank includes some of the most important
sites in Jewish history, among them Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jericho. East
Jerusalem, often cited as an "Arab city" or "occupied territory," is the
site of Judaism's holiest monument. While under Arab rule (1948-67), this
area was entirely closed to Jews. Since Israel took control, it has been
open to people of all faiths.

Finally, let us consider the demand that certain territories in
the Muslim world must be off-limits to Jews. This demand is of a piece with
Hitler's proclamation that German land had to be "Judenrein" (empty of
Jews). Arabs can live freely throughout Israel, and as full citizens. Why
should Jews be forbidden to live or to own land in an area like the West
Bank simply because the majority of people is Arab?

In sum, a fair and balanced portrayal of the Middle East will reveal that
one nation stands far above the others in its commitment to human rights and
democracy as well as in its commitment to peace and mutual security. That
nation is Israel.

Answer 4

We are backing the Israelis because there are at least six countries and at least two terrorists organizations trying to wipe them out. Don't you think somebody should lend them a hand?

You don't care that Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas are actively attacking Israel? You don't care that Lebanon is actively hiding and protecting Hezbollah? Or that the people of Lebanon support Hezbollah's effort to exterminate the Jews? Are you sure you're not anti-Semitic?

Answer 5

Back in the 80's when the hostages were being held in Beirut I asked someone from Lebanon why most Arab nations hate us. The answer I got was simple, because we back Israel. They will do things and go oh well we the u.s to back us so what are you going to do. First of all I say give Palestine borders. Israel grows and shrinks. First its theirs, then its ours. I agree with you totally. Its time we let them fend for themselves. Would they back us if something big happened? I doubt it. Oh and there's a reason why nobody likes someone. They aren't just all innocent and nice.

Answer 6

The US is just a puppet to jewish agenda. After WW2 and even before they were infiltrating and assimilating them selves into the deepest levels of US government and finance. It looks like the US is backing the isrealis from most peopels poin tof view. But if you look deeper you will see at the top levels America is just another jewish state. If you don't believe this. Look into owns and runs the biggest banks, corporations, hospitals, jewwood oops I mean hollywood. the media and most top end universities.

Answer 7

1) They've been through enough.
2) They NEED an ally. They are still surrounded by countries that don't recognize their right to exist.
3) There is an ancient promise in the Bible. God will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse them. As evil as America has become over the years, we need all the blessings we can get!

Answer 8

Good question, I would love to know why???? can't everybody see all the ruthless actions Israel is taking????????? children dying everyday in Gaza and the west bank and now Lebanon, where is human right that everybody is talking about,what gives the right to Israel to do all that? 2 soldiers? come on, people are being killed , hundreds of them, nobody said that we have the right to defend ourselves< and when we did start , there was no other way but suicide bombs, that was the only weapon we have, no fighter planes no missiles , nothing of what Israel has, we have nothing but our stones, we are the ones who should defend ourselves, they have everything, we have nothing, and we are called terrorists, this is life in Palestine everyday, funerals everywhere, but they make the world upside down for two soldiers, please try to understand us.

Answer 9

Hi Maria, I just wanted to thank you for threatening me on a question I posted. I suggest that if you would rather not have reprisals carried out against you for YOUR threats, that you temper down your responses a little. If you don't, it may well be YOU that gets a friendly visit. Take care!

Answer 10

Effective ally in the fight against Islamic Terror. Additionally, without the US' help, Israel would cease to Exist.

And you guys are all typical Western idealists who think that the entire world wants peace and all cultures are equal.