Israel — Liability or Asset?

Israel — Liability or Asset?

By Anthony Accetta, Housatonic

Marvin Peyser, in his long letter in the June 21 issue of The Voice [Supporting Israel Is in America's Best Interest], just doesn't convince me. First of all, in referring to Edward LeHoskey's submission "More Reasons to Vote" [June 14], Mr. Peyser used the words "vicious anti-Israeli article." In my opinion Mr. LeHoskey's letter was right on the mark. It was not vicious, nor anti-Israeli; rather, it stuck with the facts.

Many Americans are tired of sending military aid to Israel. Mr. Peyser failed to point out in his letter that out of the $12 billion that the American people give each year in foreign aid, Israel gets a little over $3 billion. That doesn't leave much for the rest of the world, like starving sub-Saharan Africa and other troubled areas. To me that is out of balance. And I don't like how Israel is using the aid. They are building new houses and permanent settlements on occupied Palestinian land, which inflames not only the Palestinians but the rest of the Arab world, from whom America gets some 60% of our oil.

Let us not forget one thing: Israel is not an American state but a foreign country; we are not obligated to send this foreign state anything. And I am not convinced that Israel is a true democracy, as its visiting prime ministers so frequently try to convince America. I believe theocracy is a more accurate description of Israel's government.

What does Israel do for America? They don't send us oil. We don't have military bases there. In the past they have spied on America with impunity. Our unquestioning support for Israel, in my opinion, was a crucial factor in the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Towers.

So, Mr. Peyser, you haven't convinced me, nor many of my friends, that supporting Israel is in America's best interest. I want to see Israel leave all occupied Palestinian lands, treat the Palestinian people as equals, and move toward peace and a quick establishment of a Palestinian state, without Israeli control. I want to see Israel stop spying on the U.S. Until this happens, Israel should be considered a liability, not an asset, and I am for cutting aid to the region.