By: Jamal Kanj*
September 16,
2011
The recently
published comments by former US Secretary of Defense, who served also as the
CIA Chief in an earlier administration, that Israel was “ungrateful ally,”
warrant a serious review of the one-sided US/Israel relationship. Especially, since this statement is coming from a person
who is considered as a good friend of Israel.
Gate
was irate for despite the vast US financial aid, unconditional US support at
all international forum, supplying Israel with the latest US defense
technologies, financing Israel’s missile defense system, sharing of high level
intelligence data, insatiable Israel was still ungrateful.
In
layman terms: former Secretary Gate articulated the frustration of many US
officials with regards to Israel’s arrogant and blatant indifference to US
strategic interest in the world.
For
instance, Israel was known to having turned around and shared US technology
with potential US adversaries. In the early 1990s, Israel provided China with
“back door” access to sensitive technology related to the US Patriot missile
program.
According
to American intelligence, China used the American technology to improve its
surface to air missiles, and likely incorporated countermeasures in its
ballistic and cruise missiles to overcome the US missile defense program.
In early 2000, notwithstanding US expressed displeasure, Israel sold
China Harpy Killer, unmanned anti radar drones.
In mid 1980s Israel was also suspected of sharing sensitive intelligence
information with the Soviet Union in exchange for releasing Jewish dissidents
and easing the immigration of Soviet Jews to Israel. Israel acquired the sensitive
US information illegally from indicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard. Pollard, a
Jewish American was granted Israeli citizenship while in US jail, and a
Jerusalem park was renamed after Pollard rewarding him for spying on Israel’s only
benefactor.
The recent tantrum from an “Israeli friend” was the result of accumulative
factors self evident by recent Israeli condescending remarks delivered to US
leaders on Middle Eastern issues. The last was reported when Israeli prime
minister Netanyahu blathered for more than an hour to “educate” US President
on the indefensible1967 border.
Gate
himself was incensed with Netanyahu bleating Israel’s disapproval of arm sales
to America’s Arab allies and Turkey, who unlike Israel, at least they pay for their
purchases. Gate assuaged Netanyahu by assuring him the sales were in full
consultation with Israel and its supporters in US Congress.
Unfortunately,
Israel’s pompous attitude is empowered by Congress’ servitude to Israel’s
powerful lobby in Washington. Israel’s undue influence was manifested recently when
members of the US Congress groveled with 29 standing ovation to Netanyahu’s effervescent
speech at the joint session. Ironically, no US president has ever received this
level of unitary adulation from both sides of the aisles.
To
insure Congress’ continued submission, an Israeli lobby group recently invested
around one million dollar for 81 members of Congress, 1/3 of them freshmen, in
an all paid trip to attend obedience orientation crash course in Jerusalem.
Israel exploited a loophole precluding US Congress members from accepting foreign
money by using a not for profit Jewish organization to finance the trip.
Alas,
the Obama administration was not very far behind the submissive Congress. In fact, the newly appointed Israeli “High
Commissioner” to Washington, ambassador Dan Shapiro had nothing but praise for Obama’s
commitment to Israel’s security, ecstatically adding that Obama has expanded the
US commitment to Israel to “unprecedented levels.”
On
the top of the standing $3 billion of annual aid and despite US economic
downturn, Obama is conferring additional $1.1 billion in the coming fiscal year;
meanwhile he had generously requested US Congress to cough up $205 million to
finance the deployment of Israeli anti missile program, known as the Iron Dome
System.
On
the Diplomatic level, the US administration is blackmailing the Palestinian
authority with cutting its meager annual aid and threatening to block UN
Security Council vote if Palestinians try to seek UN recognition of their
state.
In
Spite of all this, the unthankful Israel and its loyalists are not content. In
a recent congressional election, former Democratic Mayor Ed Koch threw his
support behind a Republican candidate in a New York Jewish district, calming
that Obama was not doing enough for Israel. Notwithstanding a 3 to 1 Democratic
registration, with a parochial Zionist agenda, the pro Israeli Jewish Democrats
opted for a Republican candidate who had professed to be more pro Israel.
