Earlier this week, a small group of congressional Democrats succeeded in blocking a provision in an appropriations bill for funding the Iron Dome, a purely defensive system that protects Israeli civilians from rockets, and whose battle-tested technology has been incorporated into the American security arsenal. Yesterday, the House passed separate legislations that would provide the funds, but the incident nonetheless demonstrates the dedication and mean-spiritedness of anti-Israel progressives. Michael Oren asks whether America’s generous financial assistance to the Jewish state—which, in practice, is also a major subsidy to U.S. arms manufacturers—is in the best interest of either nation:
Behind closed doors, Israelis are questioning why a country as militarily and economically robust as theirs should continue to appear dependent on any foreign power. Why, [moreover], should Israel, still a vulnerable country in the world’s toughest region, allow itself to be seen as open to progressive arm-twisting?
The answers to these questions may well lie in moving from the current donor-recipient model to a collaborative relationship based on both countries’ interests and strengths. Such an arrangement would provide for investment in joint research in artificial intelligence, directed energy (lasers), and cyberwarfare—all fields in which Israel excels. Such cooperation would bring immediate benefits to American and Israeli security and strengthen their abilities to counter common threats.
And nothing, it might be added, would be a better response to those legislators who are willing to cause harm to the Palestinians—and perhaps even to America—in order to attack Israel. Nothing could more effectively stimulate economic growth while contributing to Middle East security, and nothing could be more befitting for two sovereign, democratic states. In this way, perhaps, the blocking of aid for Iron Dome would not only be a wakeup call but also an opportunity for Israel and the United States to place their relationship on a more equitable and durable foundation.
Read more on Tablet: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/aid-israel-michael-oren