Is a relationship with Israel important to America? Why?

1. 86

   RJ Schwartzposted 7 years ago

   Is a relationship with Israel important to America?  Why?
   
   It took eight years of backbiting and pretending they got along for relations between President Barack Obama's administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to finally hit rock bottom.  John Kerry is publically speaking about the Israeli state in a negative manner. 
   In today's world, there is major debate about if we need a relationship with Israel - thoughts?
   
   

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2. 82

   jackclee lmposted 7 years ago

   Yes and for very good reason. Israel is our only friend in the Middle East and a democracy. It is said in the Bible that those who bless the Jewish people will be blessed by God... We support Israel because it is the right thing to do. That being said does not mean we automatically defend Israel with everything they do. If they are out of line, we as the only super power must call them out. We have a duty to be fair minded in the World community. However, I totally disagree with the UN and how politicized it has become. We need to scrap it and start over. Since we provide the majority of the funding, we should have a bigger voice in how it is to be organized and run. Also, I believe this new organization should be relocated to a neutral country, not based in NYC. It is a sore point with me that these diplomats can abuse our parking laws...I live in the suburb of NYC and hate to drive to the city whenever the UN meets and world leaders arrive in their entourage of black SUVs and Limos...

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3. 87

   MizBejabbersposted 7 years ago

   Our alliance with Israel is very important, not because of an antique man-edited document called The Holy Bible, and not because the jews are the father of Christianity. They killed Jesus, if you recall. Israel is important to us because of the Mossad, the Jewish Secret Service Agency. The Mossad is our eyes and ears in the Middle East.  Without Israel we are practically blind in the Middle East, but our reliance on their intell doesn't mean that we should condone every act or intention of theirs. We do have to admit that their arrogance of  "God-Given" authority to take what they perceive as theirs is not always right or just.
   I wonder about this problem between Obama and Netanyahu. I don't know exactly what Obama's problem with Israel is, but Netanyahu should not have violated protocol by meeting with certain congressional leaders. Perhaps Netanyahu thought that either outcome in the presidential election would leave him with a leader he could work with. But he underestimated Obama opened himself up to retaliation. Obama's retaliation has left Trump in a conundrum, and there lies a problem for the United States.

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   1. 86

      RJ Schwartzposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      First paragraph makes very solid points.  It's too bad that there are so many people who don't see the strategic value of the relationship.

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