US Tax Dollars Well Spent - Israel's Economy Is Sound

The United States government has financially aided Israel since its inception in 1948 to the tune of $170 billion. Estimates of private American donations to Israel, and the tax exempt status of the donations accounts for $1.5 billion annually

Israel is the 16th largest economy in the World, it's economy is worth $130 billion. Israel receives 30% ($3 billion) of US foreign aid annually. Israel accounts for 0.001% of the World's population with roughly 7 million Israelis.

The war that Israel is engaging in with Lebanon is currently not affecting their economy very much. Could this be due to the massive financial assistance provided to her by the United States?

Israel's economy copes well - for now

Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer's insistence that his country's economy will escape relatively unscathed from the ongoing conflict stands in sharp contrast to the enormous damage being done to Lebanon's.

"There is damage to the [Israeli] economy," Mr Fischer acknowledged.

But he predicted that the economy's growth rate was likely to slip by "less than 1%".

Growth this year should thus come in at 4.5%, weaker than last year's 5.2% growth rate and well below earlier predictions of 5.5%.

The relevance of all this is that essentially it is US fiscal aid that is prolonging Israel's capacity to wage its agressive campaigns and occupation of Palestine. Without this direct propping up from the American tax payer Israel would not be able to do what it is currently doing.

Israel has a right to exist but it's continuing to punch well above it's weight at the financial cost of the United States tax payer. At a time when American poverty is rising sharply and the American economy has it's highest ever recorded debt levels, is it in the United States interest to continue to subsidise the world's 16th largest economy with very little in return besides Islamic anger?

[edit on 6/8/06 by subz]

There shouldnt be any surprises here.
Of course the USA is going to give financial aid to Israel.
How else would the US ensure that Israel buys US made military hardware ?
It dosnt matter where foreign aid gose to the concept isnt about helping other countries foreign aid and in some cases private aid are just a way getting other countries to enter the market where the aid came from.

I hope that fellow members can understand my point.


[edit on 6-8-2006 by xpert11]

Originally posted by xpert11
There shouldnt be any surprises here.
Of course the USA is going to give financial aid to Israel.
How else would the US ensure that Israel buys US made military hardware ?

I don't really understand this concept. How does Alice giving Bob money so that Bob can buy Alice's stuff profit her?

On the OP, you should also read the accompanying article:

Lebanon economy reels as attacks continue

Originally posted by Beachcoma
I don't really understand this concept. How does Alice giving Bob money so that Bob can buy Alice's stuff profit her?

Its dodgy econimcs all right. Well in effect local industrys are being subsidied and politicans can claim that they are doing the world a favour.
Politicans love this sort of thing.





[edit on 6-8-2006 by xpert11]

Imho its the perfect way to syphon taxpayer money from goverment to private corporations.

Goverment makes you pay taxes, they give cash to Israel, Israel buys weapons from the american weapons industry.

Which pritty much equals the US giving taxpayer money to the weapons industry in bucketloads.

If you look at how Israels GDP grew compared to the cashflow from the US to Israel, you'll also notice that it almost looks like the GDP of Israel today is because of money they got for free from the US.

So because Israel is not suffering a economic break down that is some how bad? It is bad that America aids them? .... why is that bad again?

They continue trade because their ports are not blockaded, and most of what they sell is high tech industry to America's military. We do infact pay for their trade deficiate.

Originally posted by Beachcoma

Originally posted by xpert11
There shouldnt be any surprises here.
Of course the USA is going to give financial aid to Israel.
How else would the US ensure that Israel buys US made military hardware ?

I don't really understand this concept. How does Alice giving Bob money so that Bob can buy Alice's stuff profit her?

On the OP, you should also read the accompanying article:

Lebanon economy reels as attacks continue

We do not want anything financial from Israel, we profit off their ability to kick some @&* and for their supurb inteligence capabilities, which in the region far surpass CIA abilities, we also get a station like we have in Korea, Germany, Japan and so on, only Israel mans them themselves and do not have to rely on American troops like our other... allies... That is why we support them and keep them affloat in such rough seas. Is this bad? If so I don't see how.

Whats wrong with America giving Israel financial aid? Their are countries around the world who are starving and cant provide any healthcare, shelter, or education for its citizens, yet one third of America's foriegn aid budget goes to Israel. Here is the stats. U.S. aid to Israel
Where do you think all that money goes? Into stregthening their economy? Or buying new fighter jets?

Originally posted by xpert11
There shouldnt be any surprises here.
Of course the USA is going to give financial aid to Israel.
How else would the US ensure that Israel buys US made military hardware ?

It dosnt matter where foreign aid gose to the concept isnt about helping other countries foreign aid and in some cases private aid are just a way getting other countries to enter the market where the aid came from.

I hope that fellow members can understand my point.


[edit on 6-8-2006 by xpert11]

Wrong.

Israel gets loads of foreign aid from America because of the huge pro-Israeli lobbying group influence in washington.

Israel holds alot more influence over the US than vice versa.

Loads of countries world wide buy American military equipment without recieving aid from us.

Originally posted by wang
Whats wrong with America giving Israel financial aid? Their are countries around the world who are starving and cant provide any healthcare, shelter, or education for its citizens, yet one third of America's foriegn aid budget goes to Israel. Here is the stats. U.S. aid to Israel
Where do you think all that money goes? Into stregthening their economy? Or buying new fighter jets?

Wang we are not here to babysit every freaking nation that handle its own crap, we are not the worlds welfare provider and we will never be that provider! We aid Israel simply because of its military and iteligence resources and for that reason only, we provide aid to countries we get something back from, unless it is because of international pressure, such as the tsunami. Your thinking that we need to provide for example hostpitals in Africa and every other dirt poor un civilized state is insane, we can not even provide that for our own people let alone them.

For a country that always going off about someone trying to exterminate them, they seem to be doing pretty well for themselves. This should be proof enough that a country thats threatened would not have as many investments coming in if they felt it was a risk.
Another thing is that they are pretty much crushing any and all competition in the region. Take Lebanon for example. Her beaches are ruined because of oil spills now, the city is a wreck and the financial district as well, the casino.

Come Visit Israel we are the Only Kids on the Block with a roof over its head!!

I never said america should rpovide for every country in the world. But the fact that the living standards of Israel are very high yet america still sends billions in foreign aid. You are 100 percent rigbht though, america should rpovide for itself then others, so are you not angry that most of Israeli citizens do have high living standards from your tax dollars, yet your brothern are starving in the streets?

The fact that america says it is the "good guy" it should act like it, insted of giving aid to a country that spends it on its military it should give aid to countries who really do need it. Would you rather your tax dollar helping millions of starving people? Or would you rather your tax dollars going to a foreign army, to kill and cause more poverty? When Israel is done with lebanon, it will rebuild it, and where do you think the money will come from to rebuild lebanon? America. You tax dollars are blowing up a country and then rebuilding it. Wouldnt you rather feed children in south-east asia, africa, and india? Sorry they are do give anything back......thats why its called Foriegn Aid.

Foreign aid, international aid or development assistance is when one country helps another country through some form of donation. Usually this refers to helping out a country that has a special need caused by poverty, underdevelopment, natural disasters, armed conflicts, etc.

en.wikipedia.org...

A donation, not a investment.

Wang, I would rather America screw the world, cut everyone off, overthrow the government and instate one that cares soley for her own people, disregarding the rest of the war. I would prefer Isolation, and since I cannot have that, since I always have to hear on the news some other countries crap, I support Israel over a bunch of war infested tribal #$^! holes. If Israel can have a better life through then so be it, her people deserve it from their dark past. Israel spends so much on her military because of events like the 6day war, where if they did not have that military they would have been pushed into the sea. Why should I care about starving people all over the world, you are right, I care more for the starving brothren of my homeland, I care more about our way of life then some broken politicaly incapable state off in asia somwhere, and if that means war to protect that way of life since our government refuses to allow other technologies to replace oil, then so be it.

Ok I am ranting now. I am done for now.

Originally posted by Rockpuck
Wang, I would rather America screw the world, cut everyone off, overthrow the government and instate one that cares soley for her own people, disregarding the rest of the war. I would prefer Isolation, and since I cannot have that, since I always have to hear on the news some other countries crap, I support Israel over a bunch of war infested tribal #$^! holes. If Israel can have a better life through then so be it, her people deserve it from their dark past. Israel spends so much on her military because of events like the 6day war, where if they did not have that military they would have been pushed into the sea. Why should I care about starving people all over the world, you are right, I care more for the starving brothren of my homeland, I care more about our way of life then some broken politicaly incapable state off in asia somwhere, and if that means war to protect that way of life since our government refuses to allow other technologies to replace oil, then so be it.

Ok I am ranting now. I am done for now.

On the news you always have to hear some other countries crap? Dude you have never left america, American news is the most biased news in the world. All your news programs centre around america, then near the end of the news report it goes on to state some 'world news'. Very national orientated news, so i dont know why your complaining.....

I agree that America should become a Isolationist country, but for that fact your surport Israel over tribal 'something' holes. Again get out of america and go see the middle east, they are more civilized than you would expect. Her people desrve a better life because of their dark past? A very small monoirty of the Israeli population alive are holocaust survives, 99% of the people in Israel now never saw the holocaust. They dont deserve extra help because of what their fathers and mother went through. So who deserves your foriegn aid more. The Israeli population, who have health care, education and clean water? or some as you state "broken politicaly incapable state off in asia somewhere"?
And as shown Israel's military aint going anywhere soon to be pushed out into the sea.....this argument may hav applied in the 50's but not in todays modern world.
So you condone a war for the fact to protect your way of life? So you are willing to destroy millions of other people's way of life to continue your own way of life......Thats american arrogance for you. There are billions of humans who do live outside the United states of america who have their own way of life.....just to elt ya know.

Sure, the US tangles it's finances into quite the knot into other countries finances.
Is this morally wrong, well, that depends on the reasons, most of which are for military expansion, to me, yes, thats morally wrong.

Is it a mistake... no, its a pretty clever way to ensure the US survives. Then again, I've never been too keen on the world having another Roman empire... but what can I do to stop it?

Wang, why should we care about their way of life when they are didicated to destorying ours? 9/11. the cole bombing, it was all a way of saying "F--- you america DIE!"

No I do not care if those people who believe this way die. Even better that Israel does it for us for some $$$.

Cold hearted? you betcha.....but what was 9/11 when 5,000 of my countrymen died because of no other reason than these people's hate?

Many on ATS realise that if they sway the american people by convincing them it was an "inside" job the war will stop and they will get their way. Your forgetting one thing..... there were SEVERAL other incidents commited by the same group of people BEFORE 9/11....were all those inside jobs too?

They want to get to allah....we can help them get there really fast.

[edit on 6-8-2006 by XphilesPhan]

Originally posted by XphilesPhan
No I do not care if those people who believe this way die.
...
They want to get to allah....we can help them get there really fast.

[edit on 6-8-2006 by XphilesPhan]

I am really amazed that such posts are getting more and more frequent on ATS. I do not know how a person can be so brainwashed to post something like that and further maybe even believing it. I really don't want to insult the intelligence of an ATS member, but seriously how stupid and narrow minded can one be to have such a mindset? I recently read a very nice thread about the disinfo agents on ATS. Now, that is more reasonable...

Wang it would do you some good not to assume you personally know me, or for that matter know where I have been to make ignorant comments about me never leaving America, also if my country goes to war so as to stay on top of the world arena, damn straight I support it, it is what empires do to sustain their power. Any one with a problem with that can fall in line with the other countries we have handled.
I get my news online, from independant moderate sources, and some from ATS.
Also, don't try and say I am some evil war mongering person because I don't care about every single person on this over populated planet, Chinese mean nothing to me as much as a kazahkistanian or any other country, please explain to me why I as an America SHOULD care about them? ... because they are human? There are plenty of humans here to care for, why give a rats #%!# about more from people, like in Lebanon, who put them selves in the situation.

Lebanon didn't have the balls to remove a threat that in case of an attack from them to Israel would spark war on themselves, I cannot condemn Israel for hitting them. May they learn a lesson, radical Islam does not make for good political parties when dealing with western neighbors.

Of course you object Wang, but as argueing with you makes me go more right, you more left, lets agree to disagree - I don't want to hear it anymore.

Originally posted by XphilesPhan
Wang, why should we care about their way of life when they are didicated to destorying ours? 9/11. the cole bombing, it was all a way of saying "F--- you america DIE!"

No I do not care if those people who believe this way die. Even better that Israel does it for us for some $$$.

Cold hearted? you betcha.....but what was 9/11 when 5,000 of my countrymen died because of no other reason than these people's hate?

Many on ATS realise that if they sway the american people by convincing them it was an "inside" job the war will stop and they will get their way. Your forgetting one thing..... there were SEVERAL other incidents commited by the same group of people BEFORE 9/11....were all those inside jobs too?

They want to get to allah....we can help them get there really fast.

[edit on 6-8-2006 by XphilesPhan]

Simply put 9/11 was done by a handful of islamic extremists, not the whole islamic population, they were Saudi, be cold hearted towards them not the whole islamic world.

Originally posted by RockpunkWang it would do you some good not to assume you personally know me, or for that matter know where I have been to make ignorant comments about me never leaving America, also if my country goes to war so as to stay on top of the world arena, damn straight I support it, it is what empires do to sustain their power. Any one with a problem with that can fall in line with the other countries we have handled.

You contradict your beliefs.

Wang, I would rather America screw the world, cut everyone off, overthrow the government and instate one that cares soley for her own people, disregarding the rest of the war. I would prefer Isolation

Firstly you state that you would like a isolationist regime, then you state that you would back your country to war to stay ontop of the world arena. I have a porblem with American arrogance, "we must be number one, if we are not, we will take the whole world with us"

I get my news online, from independant moderate sources, and some from ATS.

Im sure you do, i was just stating back at what you said about hearing other countries crap, their is a world out there.

Also, don't try and say I am some evil war mongering person because I don't care about every single person on this over populated planet, Chinese mean nothing to me as much as a kazahkistanian or any other country, please explain to me why I as an America SHOULD care about them? ... because they are human? There are plenty of humans here to care for, why give a rats #%!# about more from people, like in Lebanon, who put them selves in the situation.

You dont care about chinese and kazahkistanians to give them foriegn aid, but you care about Israel?

Lebanon didn't have the balls to remove a threat that in case of an attack from them to Israel would spark war on themselves, I cannot condemn Israel for hitting them. May they learn a lesson, radical Islam does not make for good political parties when dealing with western neighbors.

Yeah Lebanon didnt have the balls to dismantle Hezbollah, because it could of incited another Civl war in Lebanon. And dont tell me that Lebanon should of still listened to Resolution 1559, as in my other thread you have read
Double standards with Israel and the U.N. we have seen Israel doesnt listen to the U.N. either.

Of course you object Wang, but as argueing with you makes me go more right, you more left, lets agree to disagree - I don't want to hear it anymore.

Im sorry but this is what PTS is about, you dont want to hear it from me anymore, dont post yourself.


P.S. Sorry about making 'ignorant' comments about you leaving america....but question, have you ever been outside of north america?

Aid is one thing, but when a country's GDP and the growth of that GDP are mostly comprised of this Foreign Aid comming from 1 specific nation, while this country isn't a 3de world country and actualy has a western level strong and stable economy.

Its like Bill Gates sending Michael Dell "aid" because he's getting such steep competition from HP. Michael is only worth the 27th spot on the worlds top 100 richest list, but hey, hes only worth 1/7th of Gates.

Aid is something you send to "aid" a country in need, not something you send to artificialy create a world top 50 GDP nation, while that country has refused to comply with a couple 100 UN resolutions, is known to be utterly brutal and racist, land thieves and so on.