Israel

[Proud liberal 80]

I am really starting to not like this country. They seem like the real bullies. And they know they can do whatever they want because America has their back.

[cos dem]

1. I was just there last week.

It was my first visit.
Very nice place, and very friendly. But, they seem just as short-sighted as Americans. All in for Netanyahu and Trump. They think Trump is Bibi's poodle, forgetting that Trump is Putin's poodle first.
They don't really seem to have a plan for the future, except that by some miracle the Palestinians will just disappear from the face of the earth. No need to create a separate Palestinian state, and certainly no need to integrate Palestinians into Israeli society.
It's a Jewish state without being a theocracy, and it really would be a shame to see it compromised, but I don't see how their current status-quo is sustainable.
Bibi is an ass for pushing Trump to get out of the Iran deal. But, I have no problem with their defense against Iran's presence in Syria.

[quartz007]

3. Bibi just visited Putin

I think yesterday..

[applegrove]

5. Yes.

[sinkingfeeling]

9. I just returned from Jordan. Stood on Mt. Nebo and looked into Israel. I think

Jordan is one of the most 'Christian' behaving countries in the world. They took in millions of fleeing Palestinian refugees in the 1960s and have taken in more than 2 million Syrian refugees. They grant these refugees full citizenship. They can hold jobs and live where they like.
Tiny country that practices it's religion instead of just mouthing the words.

[quartz007]

2. Israel population is 8.5 million

it is surrounded by 250 million Arabs who do not like Jews, and non-Arab 80 million people in Iran. And they have all the oil wealth in middle-east. I am surprised Israel has not been over-run after 70 years of it's existence.

[cos dem]

4. They do have the best military in the region.

And, I suspect some of the anti-Israeli rhetoric is mostly just that, at least from anyone who makes a difference. Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia nominally "hate" Israel, but in many cases, I think their interests are served by maintaining at least a sort-of detente. Saudi Arabia, in particular, is probably happy enough with the Iran/Israel conflict in Syria, as it distracts Iran from the Saudi/Iran conflict in Yemen.

[BigmanPigman]

6. I read that they get 3.5 BILLION a year from the US for their military.

The only New Yorkers I know who are pro tRump are my old neighbors who are orthodox jews and are heavy duty pro-Bibi. Man, you do NOT want to get them started on the whole thing.

[whathehell]

7. That does seem a little exorbitant..

[BigmanPigman]

8. I agree!

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/14/world/middleeast/israel-benjamin-netanyahu-military-aid.html

By Peter Baker and Julie Hirschfeld Davis

Sept. 13, 2016
JERUSALEM — The United States has finalized a $38 billion package of military aid for Israel over the next 10 years, the largest of its kind ever, and the two allies plan to sign the agreement on Wednesday, American and Israeli officials said.

[cally]

10. I don't see how Israel survives unless they embrace peace with neighbors

It's embraced a siege mentality and militarily run state. When I was there, I just worried that their Trump embrace would ultimately lead to end of Israel. You can't survive in the long term without peace with your neighbors.

[Mc Mike]

11. I'm positive there are a ton of progressive Israelis who could bad mouth the US, in the same way.

I hope they don't blame me for dRump and the repugs.

[Blue_true]

13. Exactly. There are lots of progressive people in Israel. nt

[Blue_true]

12. You should educate yourself on Israel.

There are a lot of peace-loving progressive people living there. Bibi is not one of them, but there are Israeli progressives who are fighting him tooth and nail everyday. It is not the country that is a bully, rather Bibi and some of his ministers.