Introduction:
Many people are accused of chutzpa who lack the intellectual capacity to merit that appellation. Thank God this does not apply to the present author. Accordingly, I am going to write as the self-appointed spokesman of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, or at least of the Netanyahu who predicted—as I and others did—that the Oslo or Israel-PLO Agreement of September 1993 would bring war, not peace. So let’s keep this other Netanyahu in mind and refer only to his charming or disarming sobriquet “Bibi.”
terrorism institute in honor of his heroic brother Yonaton, I was informally commissioned by the Netanyahus to draft the outline of a three-day international conference on terrorism—whose papers and discussions would provide the intellectual foundation for the institute’s major work on the subject. For this purpose I went to the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. I studied some 95 books on the subject by experts in various countries with a view to drafting papers for some of the political celebrities who were to be invited to this star-studded conference—suffice to mention the late Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson.
So let me immodestly add that having written four books on American statesmanship, ten books on Israel, and more than a thousand articles and policy papers on Israeli politics, projecting myself today as Bibi’s self-appointed spokesman is something more noteworthy than typical chutzpa.
On the other hand, since Jewish law makes all Jews responsible for each other, and since Israel has a reputation for having more than a million prime ministers, chutzpa of all types is well represented in this country.
Here Is What Bibi should Say In America
“Ladies and gentleman, friends of Israel, Jewish and Christian and all Americans who are tired of “spin” and “political correctness”—I mean Americans who love truth, who respect the great American heritage, the America that saved mankind more than once from tyranny—yes, the America that upholds the principles of the American Declaration of Independence. From this immortal document drafted by Thomas Jefferson and signed by 55 other highly educated and extraordinary Americans, mankind has learned that there are certain truths that transcend time and place, truths rooted in the Bible’s conception of man’s creation in the image of God. This is the source of our unalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. This is bedrock that unites America and Israel.
Hence Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could say to the American-Israel Affairs Committee, (AIPAC) that the US commitment to Israel’s security is rock solid.
Accordingly, I want to affirm that Israel’s commitment to America’s security is rock solid. Under no circumstances will we ever endanger the security, health, and prosperity of our loyal friends, the American people.
The White House and all well-informed Americans know that Israel constantly relays to Washington life-saving lessons on counter-terrorism, lessons that have reduced American losses in Iraq and Afghanistan, lessons that prevent attacks on American soil, upgrade American weapons, and contribute to the American economy. In fact, Israel’s innovative technologies boost U.S. industries. Here are some fascinating details:
● The company that produces your F16 fighter jets credits Israel for 600 improvements in the plane’s systems, modifications estimated to be worth billions of dollars, which spared dozens of research and development years.
● In fact, without Israel, the U.S. would have to deploy tens of thousands of American troops in the eastern Mediterranean to protect NATO, at a cost of billions of dollars a year.
● In 1981, Israel bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor, thus providing the U.S. with the option of engaging in conventional wars with Iraq in 1991 and 2003, thereby preventing a possible nuclear war and its horrendous consequences.
● In 2005, Israel provided America with the world’s most extensive experience in homeland defense against suicide bombers and car bombs. American soldiers train in Israel’s own military facilities, and Israeli-made drones were used in Iraq, as well as in Afghanistan, thus providing U.S. Marines with vital intelligence which saved many American lives.
We thank God that Israel has the ability to protect American fighting men and women and to provide intelligence information that can prevent terrorist attacks on American cities. Israel itself has suffered many 9/11s, and this makes it all the more important to maintain the closest ties between our two countries. The closeness of our ties will also serve to deter war in the Middle East.
Americans and Israelis should bear in mind that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad not only called for “Death to Israel,” but also “Death to America.” Why? Because he knows that Israel and America represent Judeo-Christian civilization which stands firmly opposed to the global imperialism of totalitarian Islam.
Now let me turn to the economic interdependence of America and Israel. Here I recall something Dr. Joseph Sisco, a former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs once told Israeli author Shmuel Katz “I want to assure you, Mr. Katz, that if we were not getting full value for our money, you would not get a cent from us.” In fact, Israel is, and has been, America’s biggest strategic bargain—and I assume President Obama knows this. Here are solid facts:
Between 1991 and 2009, total U.S. military grants and economic assistance to Israel was approximately $50 billion dollars. What has the U.S. received from Israel in return?
One: Israel must spend about 74% of U.S. military aid in the United States, where it provides jobs for an estimated 50,000 American workingmen.
Two: Total exports from the 50 states of the American Union to Israel between 1991 and 2006 was $102 billion—more than twice the $50 billion Israel received in U.S. aid during this period. The annual average of U.S. exports to Israel was $6.4B per year, more than twice the average American aid package. In fact, total exports to Israel from the 50 states in 2006 was almost $11B—more than four times the U.S. military-economic aid package!
Three: Unknown to many observers, U.S. military aid to Israel creates a demand for, and the purchase of, tens of billions of dollars worth of U.S. weaponry by Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. U.S. grants to Israel—far from imposing a burden on the American tax payer—actually enriches the American economy.
Four: According to Gen. George Keegan, a former chief of U.S. Air Force Intelligence, between 1974 and 1990, Israeli aid to America was worth between $50-80 billion in intelligence, research and development savings, Soviet weapons systems captured and transferred to the Pentagon, and the testing of Soviet military doctrines up to 1990, when the USSR collapsed. Senator Daniel Inouye put it this way: “The contribution made by Israeli intelligence to America is greater than that provided by all NATO countries combined.”
Five: Recall that in 1970, at Washington’s request, Israel prevented a Syrian invasion of Jordan. By protecting Jordan from that client of the Soviet Union, Israel thwarted Soviet ambitions in the Middle East.
Now, let me emphasize that we in Israel are profoundly aware of the difficult situation Americans face on the subject of health care as well as on defense against domestic terrorism. Despite threats issued by certain American officials who want to twist our arms, we are not going to undermine America and her people—with whom we are allied in heart and soul. After all, we have hundreds of thousands of Americans who have immigrated to Israel. We are your brothers and sisters.
As you know, Israel shares her unsurpassed medical technology and discoveries with America. Indeed, we are working with American doctors, scientists, and research institutes to prevent that ravages of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other medical ailments. American doctors and military officers were amazed by Israel’s medical accomplishments in quake-devastated Haiti.
America and Israel together constitute the best hope of mankind. Together America and Israel form a team like no other. Just as your commitment to Israel’s security is rock solid, as Secretary of State Clinton said, I want to assure you that Israel’s commitment to America’s security, health, and prosperity is also rock solid. As nations, we both share the same moral and political and I might add metaphysical beliefs and values. God bless America and Israel.
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