Lou Recine: Security for Americans: what does Israel have to do with it?

The U.S. says (or has said) it is fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq and Pakistan, Yemen, etc., to prevent the growth and influence of al Qaeda and similar groups. But I do not believe that military operations in those countries make Americans safer. My reading and research has led me to believe that the un-resolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict makes Americans less safe. Why do I believe this?

In a March 16, 2010 statement of General Petraeus to the Senate Armed Services Committee on "The Posture of U.S. Central Command" the General listed the "enduring hostilities between Israel and some of its neighbors" amongst the "root causes of instability" and "obstacles to security" in CENTCOM's Area of Responsibility, citing "Israeli-Palestinian" tensions. The General stated that "the conflict foments anti-American sentiment due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel."

In the same statement, General Petraeus said that the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict has provoked "Arab anger" and that "al Qaeda and other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilize support."

When I looked at a 12/4/09 Congressional Research Service report, "U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel" it certainly does seem to me that the U.S. has consistently shown unwarranted favor and generosity to Israel; particularly if I ask: what does America gain strategically or otherwise from showing such favor? The report's summary states:

"Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II....Since 1985, the United States has provided nearly $3 billion in grants annually to Israel. Almost all U.S. bilateral aid to Israel is in the form of military assistance....Strong congressional support for Israel has resulted in Israel’s receiving benefits not available to other countries. For example, Israel can use some U.S. military assistance both for research and development in the United States and for military purchases from Israeli manufacturers. In addition, all U.S. foreign assistance earmarked for Israel is delivered in the first 30 days of the fiscal year. Most other recipients normally receive aid in installments."

Rather than wage wars of aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan, one thing that the United States CAN do to promote both its own security as well as justice in the Middle East is assert itself as an impartial broker of peace between Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, by exerting appropriate diplomatic and economic pressure on Israel. We need to tell our legislators that we want all military and other types of aid to Israel to be tied to progress in the peace process, period. It seems to me that this would truly serve America's national security interests, and help bring a lasting, just peace in Israel/Palestine.

Israel has a right to exist in security and I believe Palestinians also have a right to exist in security in their own sovereign state. I know that there is blame on the part of both Israel and Palestine for the current lack of peace. But it is Israel that wields the military and political power in Gaza and the West Bank. A recent example of this is the Gaza aid flotilla incident. And, U.S. aid is indispensable to Israel wielding the amount of power that it does.

Please contact your federal legislators and ask them to do all they can to bring all our troops home from Afghanistan and Iraq and to also to promote U.S. initiatives that appropriately apply economic and diplomatic pressure on Israel to help move the Israeli-Palestinian peace process forward, resulting in a just and peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Lou Recine is a WNPJ member in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.