Derail the Gravy Train
Lessons from Israel in Rational Self-Interest
On October 30th, 2023, the Associated Press reported on a policy paper issued by the Israeli Intelligence Ministry which proposes the forced displacement of 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and even Canada. The document has sparked a firestorm of controversy worldwide, but there is only one correct answer to this proposal for us here in the USA.
The policy paper was dated October 13th, six days after Hamas’ offensive which killed 1,400 Israelis and took 240 hostage. Originally it surfaced on the local news website Sicha Mekomit. Unsurprisingly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s officials have downplayed the document as theoretical spit-balling, war-gaming engaged in by governmental employees considering the direst scenarios and casualties by the megadeath. It is still unknown whether the document was fed to the media so as to tip Israel’s hand or leaked by an Intelligence Ministry official surely to get Vanunu’d, but it hardly matters either way. The proposal reveals that Israel is duly evaluating all options, and nothing less should be expected.
The forcible displacement of 2.3 million persons deemed a security risk, and subsequently dumping them on other countries, reveals that Israel is safeguarding its own interests above those of other countries, which is exactly what Israel is supposed to do. It is high time for the United States to develop some Israeli intelligence of its own.
The geopolitical costs to continued foreign aid to Israel and its unfriendly neighbors far outweigh the benefits to the United States as a nation. Individual Americans may feel affinity for Israel or Palestine, and they should be able to contribute voluntarily to the causes which earn their confidence, but no public monies should be wasted on countries which have not learnt to live as good neighbors for nearly eighty years, if not longer.
Keep this in mind as you see the media blitz underway in places like Times Square and hear fiery speeches in Congress pro-Israel or pro-Palestine. In a fight for its very survival – which is how Israel describes this latest conflict – Israel will pursue its rational self-interest. The correct answer for us Americans is to pursue ours and derail the gravy train continually running to the Middle East.
I appreciate that you are able to offer a rational and dispassionate analysis of the conflict in the Middle East. Very few people are able to separate their self perceived identity from their opinion.
The precision of your language makes it possible for people who have strong opinions on either side to engage rationally with your argument. They might not agree with you but the way you’ve articulated it makes it possible for even the most hyper partisan individual to argue based on the merits of your argument.
I wonder how you would argue the counter point that “Israel won’t survive in the Middle East without the US because they are surrounded by enemies that want to wipe them out”?