Was anyone not aware that Houston TX has a larger population than the nation of Israel?

Question

So why give Israel $3 Billion a year of US tax payer's money? Where would Houston be if they received an additional $3 Billion per year in revenue for 40 years?

Also, does asking this simple question without insulting anyone now make me an anti-semite?

Estimated July 2006 Metro Area Population: 5,539,949
http://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/houstonfacts.html

OK, off but close enough.

Answer 1

Actually, it's about 3.5 times the size of Houston.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/newpop.html

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108527.html

Houston is just over 2 million. Israel is nearly 8 million.

And, in the long run, it's not that much money.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aairaqwarcost.htm

According to my source above, $3 billion takes about 10 days to spend in Iraq. Meaning, that it took us 40 years to spend $120 billion in Israel, but in Iraq we spend that in just over a year.

In terms of stabilizing the Middle East, I would much rather pay $3 billion/ year to an ally than $120 billion/year for a war.

Just my opinion.

Answer 2

And if someone was insulted by your question, would that then make you an anti semite? (Hey, its you who was making the anti semitism contingent on insults, not me.)

As is the case, I am Jewish, and I am not insulted by your question but I am somewhat blown away by your muddleheadedness. (Ok, I'm not really blown away since there are numerous people who "think" like you and they all seem to post the same inane question on Yahoo Answers only in different words.)

So, in any case, the reason why it is muddleheaded is because it does not consider the larger picture. The larger picture is that the US government spends much much more money on many other things. For example, their other foreign aid expenditures that do NOT go to Israel. Yet, we never find you, or anyone else who posts similar questions, question this.

So, you ask a simple question, but I highly doubt you can answer my simple question. Why focus on Israel to the exclusion of all else?

And let me answer it for you. You focus on Israel not because you actually care about the US government's spending habits but because you have a thing up your a__ about the country. Such obsessions show more about you than your actual question.

And for the record, do some research first. Houston the city is 2.1 million. The metro area (loosely defined in most cases) is 5.5 million. Israel's population exceeds 5.5 million.

Answer 3

The U.S. support for Israel has nothing to do with the size of its population or the country. It is a strategic investment. Israel is "the friendly ally" in the middle east. $3 Billion dollars are 2.4% of the budget for the U.S. Navy of 2004 ($124,284,000,000). It therefore seems to be a fair amount.

Be also reminded that a large amount of this money is actually back invested since Israel buys in the U.S. for $10,964,800,000 (2006).

I don't think that your question is insulting or revealing if you are an anti-semite or not. But if you are not sure, check your conscious.

Answer 4

Please just tell me WHY nobody ever queries the BILLIONS of dollars America gives to Germany and also various Arab nations?

It's only Israel that ever gets discussed with regard to American foreign aid. I'm not saying this is anti semitic - you mentioned that!

Israel is a tiny country; you yourself have noted that it's so small that Houston contains more people in it than the whole of Israel!

Israel is and has always been on the frontline of the fight against terrorism. So of course America supports her - because America too has been attacked by terrorists!

Answer 5

Israel is important to OUR national security. It is also the only democracy in the region, making it a natural ally. If you dig deeply enough, you will find that supporting Israel is NOT about throwing money away. It's one of the best investmenents we can make, as a country.

Answer 6

'No it does not ...but it does make you a little dumb. Israel is a strategic territory for the U.S. A land right in the mix in the war on terror. We need them. The next time Houston is surrounded by aggressive muslims and we need that area to help defend the U.S, you will get your 40 ml. Aren't you glad you asked ??

Answer 7

No, this is not anti - Semitic. You are asking about a country that our tax dollars fund.

It's time to take the kid gloves off with Israel, and let her grow on her own. If she can't, well we have done our part in trying to help.

Besides, Israel is a snot nose brat these days, ignoring more UN resolutions than Iran and Iraq put together. The US is the last UN member making excuses for Israel.

edit: Jordan is in that area and is good friend with United States, as well as a member of the UN. Syria too. There are no more excuses.

Answer 8

Oh thank you enlightened one for the deep insight (yeah right). You conveniently forgot to tell about all the other differences between Israel and Houston and their importance in the world.

Answer 9

What is the point of this simple question, then?

Israel deserves to be defended. We allow them to do so.

Answer 10

Yeah because everything is bigger and better in Texas.
Did you know if we exercised our right to leave the union we and become an independent Republic again our gross national product GNP would put us in the top five world wide right off the bat.