Britain gained temporary custodial control from the League of Nations (continued by the United Nations) with the stated purpose of executing the Balfour Declaration–the promise to give the Jews Palestine for their own state. The name origin is unconnected to the people we now call “Palestinians”. After the British threw up their hands and gave it back to the UN for a partition between the sides, Israel accepted it and the Arabs rejected it. At that point, Israel declared independence and 5 Arab states invaded. Jordan began a two decade “occupation” of the West Bank and the eastern half of Jerusalem, while simultaneously forcing out all Jews and giving away their homes or other property to Arabs (who in most cases Israel has given protected status to remain in those homes until the conflict is resolved.) So, as against Jordan, the previous “owner,” Israel has superior claim because Jordan was not a lawful sovereign and used the land for belligerent purposes against Israel–when they invaded again in 1967 (after Golda Meir begged King Hussein to stay out). As against the “Palestinians,” while it may seem that the obvious solution now is to give them most of this disputed land, but they have never had any political title to it–so Israel is not confiscating that which does not belong to another. The onus is upon them to come in good faith to the negotiating table to exchange land for peace–something Arafat never did.

You may also know of the longstanding debate between liberals and conservatives about the “purpose” of foreign aid. Liberals believe it is to do the most good to help others, Conservatives tend to believe that whether it’s effective or not, it’s purpose is to serve our foreign policy goals. My view is the latter. But also, in Israel’s case the aid has been used very effectively and efficiently–and as you surely know, 80% of it must be spent in America, further tying Israel to American platforms.

Before you say what another country should and should not do, you need to do some research as your post proves your ignorance on this issue.

First, the announcement that Israel was expanding a settlement was not a big deal. The land in which the construction will take place is not disputed territory. It would be like the Palestinians building in Ramallah.

When Biden left Israel, everyone thought this issue was dead. It wasn’t until the Obama administration and Sec. of State Clinton made an even larger deal out of it, and spoke about the 45 mins phone conversation in which Clinton lectured Netanyahu.

This is nothing more than politics. The Obama administration is trying to shame Israel into making more concessions than it should.

From the very beginning, this administration has failed with its Israeli-Palestinian policy.

It’s no wonder the majority of Israelis believe Obama is pro-Palestinian.

For those who are a little confused as to why this should matter at all–we discourage further Arab invasions to destroy Israel by making sure Israel has a qualitative advantage and feels secure enough to make peace with enemies who hate it even if they sign an agreement. (see the cold peace with Egypt and Jordan). Israel can’t be expected to give up it’s security in the hope of peace if it isn’t very secure in the first place.

Israel still must spend 10% of it’s GDP on Defense, the most of any developed country, and our aid buys us more influence than it costs us. It would be impossible for Israel to defend itself without a local defense industry, but it’s impossible to maintain a local defense industry without significant exports due to Israel’s size. We routinely block weapons sales that Israel wants to make to countries we don’t want getting their hands on the most advanced equipment–and sometimes we do it purely for competitive reasons.

The Obama administration has picked this fight, blowing it out of proportion and pushing the peace process further into the future by showing its contempt for Israel and goading the Palestinians to stay away from negotiations even longer. The administration knows and acknowledges that the Prime Minister and even the Interior Minister were caught off-guard by this minor zoning announcement (that doesn’t lead to any new construction anytime soon). They are trying to make a mountain out of it as a big show of pro-Palestinian sentiment for the world–and to weaken the Israeli Prime Minister politically. Mostly it’s going to backfire.

While I would agree that Biden has no right to tell Israel what to do, I wonder your stance on the constitutionality of of the US giving Israel billions in foreign aid and military technology.

Where in the Constitution does it permit one country to unilaterally arm another against its neighbors?

While you are correct the we have no right to interfere in the affairs of another country; what is your stance on Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Georgia?

Of course a country has a right to self defense, but do we have the right to defeat an enemy militarily, and then make their country a virtual puppet state?

I am not accusing you of supporting these things, I am just curious.

All too often there is a vast double standard applied to Israel. It is accepted that we interfere in the affairs of virtually every other nation in the world, but when we challenge Israel, there is quite the uproar.

If you doubt our interference, I would suggest you reference the recently released State Department Report on Human Rights Abuses. No doubt our State Department will be put to use over the next several years to mitigate or end these abuses. Is this not unconstitutional interference?

Where in the Constitution is our government given the authority to dictate the interior policies of another nation?

I understand your contention that this might affect out troops in the battlefield, however, the United States has gone as far as to “condemn” the settlements and yet our soldiers are still getting shot at.

As far as the Likud Party being a threat to national security; if the Obama Administration were half as competent as the Likud, then we would not have had a terrorist nearly blowing a plane up over Detroit.