Why do Americans consider Israel their closest ally?

[GG2]

And why does it matter?

Why do Americans, in particular Republicans, get up and cheer whenever a politician (such as the Republicans running for President) mentions that Israel is America's closest ally and friend? It's such a bizarre spectacle to watch. What does it mean and why does any American care about any country in the Middle East?

My belief is that no American should care and really doesn't care but they've been trained to think that they care and that they have to care about Israel. If Israel were to vaporize tomorrow, what difference would it make to America? None, except that American taxpayers would be able to save billions of dollars in foreign aid to Israel.

Am I misinformed? What is the significance of American and Israeli ties?

 

[Hangman]

Well, no useful answer in that post. It actually makes no sense at all.

I too am curious why the US fawns over Israel so much. Is it post-WWII guilt for getting inthe the war so late? Is it that Israel is the only non-Muslim country in the region?

 

[Hangman]

0/2. 2 posts and still no cogent answer to the actual topic at hand.

 

[Kenny-sauga]

Two points coem to mind (and I could be wrong on both)

Isn't the Messiah thing that he will arise in Isreal and save all the Christians?

The Israel lobby is too strong. Even if some politicans want to go aganist Isreal, I think their balls are tied.

 

[rld]

The real tragedy of WW2 imho is that it could have been avoided. For starters if the stupid Germans had not elected Hitler in the first place. Then to say nothing of the numerous warnings ignored until it was too late and the "peace in our time" nonsense. But hey blame America for that as well.

They didn't exactly give him a majority in a free and fair election...

 

[Hangman]

Two points coem to mind (and I could be wrong on both)

Isn't the Messiah thing that he will arise in Isreal and save all the Christians?

The Israel lobby is too strong. Even if some politicans want to go aganist Isreal, I think their balls are tied.

So it's a combination of belief in elaborate fairy-tales and the general powerlessness of individual US politicians to think for themselves?

 

[rld]

Two points coem to mind (and I could be wrong on both)

Isn't the Messiah thing that he will arise in Isreal and save all the Christians?

The Israel lobby is too strong. Even if some politicans want to go aganist Isreal, I think their balls are tied.

You are right on both. There is a large segment of the US evangelical community that believes that Israel is a jewish state by divine right.

Also the Israel lobby is very strong and vocal. Interestingly it is not even a predominantly jewish lobby anymore.

There is also the factor that for a long time, Israel has been the only thing close to a) a democracy or b) a predictable ally for the US in that region.

I completely support Israel's right to exist and don't have much of a problem with America's foreign policy towards it.

 

[rld]

So it's a combination of belief in elaborate fairy-tales and the general powerlessness of individual US politicians to think for themselves?

How about, the majority want it that way:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/126155/support-israel-near-record-high.aspx

 

[Brill]

If they became Christian, wouldn't they get more money and support from the US?

 

[Hangman]

How about, the majority want it that way:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/126155/support-israel-near-record-high.aspx

In the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, a striking 63% of Americans currently say their sympathies lie more with the Israelis, the highest level in nearly 20 years. Support for the Palestinians, at 15%, is about average for the same period. At the same time, Gallup finds Americans' fundamental views of Israel no more favorable than they have been for the past several years. Israel does continue to enjoy a substantial advantage over the Palestinian Authority in its general image, a fact that clearly colors the ways Americans view the conflict.

The statistic is clear. The question nobody seems to be able to answer is why?

 

[Mervyn]

I would say it's correct that Isreal is American's closest ally IN the middle east.

 

[rld]

The statistic is clear. The question nobody seems to be able to answer is why?

That was posted in response to the contention that it was only lobbyists and religious fanatics that caused foreign policy to support Israel, when in fact it appears to be a majority position.

I suspect American perceive Israel as a democracy in the Middle East, I think they have sympathy for the jewish people due to the Holocaust and I think they view muslims more poorly than ever, and since they perceive Israel as a staunch ally in the conflict with radical muslims and rogue muslim nations...it adds up. But that is just my speculation.

 

[asterwald]

I would say it's correct that Isreal is American's closest ally IN the middle east.

oK AND...? Do they have oil or other resources that benefit america in any way???

Did they send their troops off to afghanistan to help fight like Canada did?

 

[asterwald]

Fact is most American are of European origin. German, Irish, etc. It would be understandable if they felt close to their ancestral homelands, like they feel to Israel.

However a tiny portion of Americans are Jewish. So it totally befuddles me.

 

[rld]

oK AND...? Do they have oil or other resources that benefit america in any way???

Did they send their troops off to afghanistan to help fight like Canada did?

My understanding is that they were not invited. Wisely so.

 

[Kenny-sauga]

Fact is most American are of European origin. German, Irish, etc. It would be understandable if they felt close to their ancestral homelands, like they feel to Israel.

However a tiny portion of Americans are Jewish. So it totally befuddles me.

That is a very reaslitic analysis. Israel offers some kind of religious high grounds (Messiah etc) and people flock. Its simple when combined with the origin as mentioned by asterwald. The real question should be how a superpower got tied to its balls by a tiny population?

 

[Loosely]

Jesus of Nazareth was Jewish. Jews loving money, Jews dominate Corporate America...dominate the media....dominate Congress...dominate all political powers...dominate science...dominate medical arts...dominate music industry...dominate hollywood...and America has no choice but support Jewish interests abroad especially the holy land of Israel. The Muslims, Jehovahs, Buddhas, Sikhs and Allah would like to wipe out Israel and Christianity at the same time. Without Christianity the Europeans and Americas are nobody or finished.
I am not saying that Jews don't control a lot of wealth and dominate the media but they got to those positions because they were qualified and not because they are Jews. Jews study hard, have strong work ethic and help other Jews out.

The answer is quite simple: EDUCATION

 

[james t kirk]

The Evangelical Christians support Israel despite everything because the Evangelicals believe in "the Rapture".

In a nutshell, the Rapture is when Jesus Christ comes back to Earth in corporal form and we all get to meet him and shake his hand (if we're not all dead).

As I understand it, the Rapture is prophesized in the Book of Revelations (which for some reason is included in the New Testament, though there are many Christian Scholars who believe that it does not belong there) Revelations says that before Jesus can return, the Jews must be in control of the Holy Land (Israel). There are a few other things in there too, but that's one of the biggies.

Sooooo

You want to meet Jesus first hand? (And what good Christian Zealot does not want meet the son of God?) - well, the Jews have to be in control of the Holy land, so they get support till the end of time by the American Gov't since a huge number of them are Evangelical Christians (never mind the American Military which is virtually controlled by them now)

But here's the funny part that the Jews don't know......

In Revelations, Jesus comes back to Earth after the Battle of Armageddon. During that battle - pretty much all of the Jews are wiped out (about half). And those that aren't killed get to meet Jesus too and he is pissed off that they didn't believe in him (being the son of God and all), so after the Battle of Armageddon, Jesus comes down from heaven and the surviving Jews realize the error of their ways and convert to Christianity and they all live happily ever after.

(You can't make this shit up.)

The really funny thing is that Evangelicals tend to be Republican Conservatives to the extreme and Jesus would definitely be a liberal. Do you think Jesus would believe in a massive military? No. Would Jesus want to see Universal Health Care? Yes. Would Jesus believe in capital punishment, owning AK 47’s, or killing homosexuals? No. Would Jesus think it right that CEO’s should make a hundred million a year while there was poverty in this world? Never.

I like this Jesus’ guys morals and all, but the Christian right will most likely demand he be crucified.

 

[asterwald]

Jesus of Nazareth was Jewish. Jews loving money, Jews dominate Corporate America...dominate the media....dominate Congress...dominate all political powers...dominate science...dominate medical arts...dominate music industry...dominate hollywood...and America has no choice but support Jewish interests abroad especially the holy land of Israel. The Muslims, Jehovahs, Buddhas, Sikhs and Allah would like to wipe out Israel and Christianity at the same time. Without Christianity the Europeans and Americas are nobody or finished.
I am not saying that Jews don't control a lot of wealth and dominate the media but they got to those positions because they were qualified and not because they are Jews. Jews study hard, have strong work ethic and help other Jews out.

The answer is quite simple: EDUCATION

Yup, it should also be mentioned that Jews have the most organizations representing their interests per capita in the US, and Europe. They really look out for their own.

 

[Aardvark154]

Why do Americans consider Israel their closest ally?

Of course this begs the question do Americans in fact consider this to be the case, I would argue that in fact most Americans consider the U.K. to be the closest ally of the U.S. and in point of fact it is actually Canada.

Now is Israel an important ally of the U.S. in the Middle East yes. Does a vast majority of the U.S. population feel that it is important for the U.S. to stand by Israel also yes. But closest ally, no.