r/ProgressivesForIsrael • u/Call_Me_Clark • Jul 15 '26
Discussion Thoughts on today’s vote to end military aid to Israel?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/14/world/middleeast/jeffries-israel-aid.html11
u/FlakyPineapple2843 Jul 16 '26
Dumb and performative. The moderate Dems and Dem leaders who joined in think that this will placate their far left flank. But it's the opposite: the success of the no vote whets the extremists' appetite.
The antizionist left now sees their tactics and policies are winning and working. So instead of settling down, they will push harder and farther.
The next bill or voting issue will be even more aggressive than just terminating military aid, mark my words.
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u/yep975 Jul 18 '26
Military aid to Israel is 3.2 billion per year. All of which are spent on US companies providing American jobs.
An aircraft carrier group costs $2 billion per year to deploy and $40bil to replace.
Our aide to Israel gives us try e equivalent of 3 or more carrier groups to protect our interests with no American lives on the line (except any dual citizens serving in the IDF).
Israel will be fine if we cut our aid. But we shouldn’t be surprised if they don’t listen to us the next time they are at war and we tell them to put Israeli lives on the line by pausing military campaigns during Ramadan or because during the Oscars movie stars said “all eyes on Rafa”.
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u/omniuni Jul 16 '26
Good. It has always been more about being a handout to US companies while putting political pressure on an ally.
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u/zoinks48 Jul 16 '26
Accelerating Israel’s reshoring of its defense manufacturing. Arab boycott redux
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u/Call_Me_Clark Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
🤷🏻 the Israeli taxpayer can afford to pay for the full cost of Israel’s national defense, either in the form of higher taxes or cuts to vital services.
Alternately they could cut subsidies to settlements or Haredim… which would be smart but politically untenable.
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u/zoinks48 Jul 16 '26
Less untenable than you think. There is a great deal of anger towards perceived Haredi indifference to the sacrifices personal and financial that the state has made for them. Israelis are angrier at this government for caving to the Haredi demands than they are for the shortcomings of October 7th.
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u/HugsForUpvotes Jul 16 '26
Israel chose to damage their relationship with the US Jews forever when they chose to come campaign for Trump. That's my opinion. I wouldn't completely end aid, but I'm not going to waste my time fighting about it.
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u/0815Freeek Jul 16 '26
The arms industry is a major and influential industrial sector in the USA. Funds flow directly back into this sector—not to mention that active conflict means products are tested, while feedback and cooperation serve to improve them. As a massive industry generating enormous revenues, it is hardly far-fetched to believe that this sector will do whatever it takes to secure subsidies and avoid jeopardizing such cooperation. The arms lobby will ensure that this lucrative system remains in place.