Israel's toll on taxpayers

Letters to the Editor
Posted: 11/17/06
Israel's toll on taxpayers


James Eaves-Johnson, in his Nov. 16 guest opinion, "Israel: The rest of the story," complains that by criticizing Israel's various human-rights violations, critics are not treating Israel fairly, because other countries, such as Russia, China, Sudan, and, he says, even the Palestinians, also commit equal crimes against humanity. I must say, he does have a point.

In many ways, Israel is like Russia and China, etc. In fact, Israel, like Russia and China, even spies on the United States (the Larry Franklin-Steven Rosen scandal, Jonathan Pollard). One very important difference Eaves-Johnson fails to mention is that the U.S. taxpayer gives Israel outrageous sums of money each year; that is not the case for the countries he lists as comparisons. Since 1973, the U.S. has given (inflation-adjusted to 2003 dollars) more than $300 billion (you could fix Social Security for that, or provide health care to Americans). And that is just the "free money."

Each year, we guarantee loans to Israel for billions more - and the Cranston Amendment in U.S. law states that U.S. aid to Israel must always at least cover its loan payments. I would think that we have every right to single out Israel for separate criticism, because it has no embarrassment at asking us for our money.

You know, sometimes, if you want the handout at the Free Soup Kitchen, you gotta listen to the sermon.

Chris Turner
UI professor

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