Why Israel should be against the current US foreign 'aid' - opinion

• Published date: 29 September 2021
• Author: SAMUEL HYDE

To comprehend the full picture, one must first understand how US foreign aid works. Israel receives billions of dollars from the US per year, but don't be fooled: it is not free cash. Over 90% of this money must be used as credit for buying weapons from companies within the US, basically subsidizing their arms industry. Israel also signs off on its rights to purchase or sell military technology from or to other countries without US approval. This is not aid. This is entrapment.

In practice, many Israeli companies such as Brill, an Israeli boots manufacturing company that once supplied the IDF, have had to close down due to Israel needing to find more ways to spend the additional credit. In the 1980s, the US even forced Israel to halt its production of the LAVI fighter plane, which would have allowed Israel to free its air force from US sourcing and gain independent strength. Imagine how many jobs and industries could be created if the nation invested in its long-term future. There is a repeated theme that is tied with this particular contract of foreign aid, and that is making sure Israel never becomes fully independent.

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Let's be clear, there is no issue with having relations with the United States, even "aid" contracts such as the ones it has with Germany and Sweden. The current relationship, however, could be detrimental to Israel's long-term safety. Israel exists in a region where it has to learn from its past, make sure to evaluate every possibility, and be prepared for all scenarios.

The idea that Israel needs US support to survive couldn't be further from the truth. It...