Our Views

Israel Should Not Give or Receive

by Shmuel Sackett 

My position on not giving Jewish money to the Tsunami relief effort remains firm. As stated previously, Jewish money should go to Jewish causes and especially not to people who identify with our enemy.

But what about the reverse? What about taking money from non-Jews? Should Israel accept money from the United States? Should we welcome financial assistance from Christian Zionists? Is it hypocritical to take… but not to give?

My answer in this case is, once again, a proud Jewish one. Israel should not take money from the United States, fundamental Christian Zionists or the United Nations and yes… if we would take and not give, we would indeed be a bunch of hypocrites!

Taking money from the USA has given 5,000,000 Israelis a "shnorrer" mentality and has made us falsely believe that without that assistance Israel cannot exist. This financial aid has made America our "sugar daddy" and has created arrogant American politicians who feel they control the strings of a puppet called Israel. Furthermore, this money has silenced American Jews for fear that a wrong move will stop the flow of funds. And worst of all, this has caused us all to not rely on the True Provider and put our belief and trust only in Him.

Every day in our morning prayers, we say  (Psalms) 146: "Do not rely on those promising help, nor on a human being for they hold no salvation… Praiseworthy is one whose help is Jacob's G-d, whose hope is in G-d…" Next time slow down when saying these words and think about them for a minute. Stop running to catch the train and start focusing on the holy words written by King David.

This actually goes a lot deeper. Did you know that American aid to the Jewish State only started after the Six-Day war? Before 1967 America refused to help Israel. No military assistance was given and no civilian aid was extended either, yet the State of Israel was born and managed to win three very difficult wars. In 1948 Israel's weapons came from Czechoslovakia and in 1967 the planes used to dominate the airspace and totally eradicate the Egyptian and Syrian air forces were from France!!! Can you imagine that??? Czechoslovakia and France and no United States! This clearly shows that it is not Washington that controls our destiny but G-d Himself who choreographs history and decides the ultimate plan.

You might say that while that is true, ultimately the United States did enter the scene and since that time has indeed come to our rescue. Wasn't it President Nixon whose emergency arms shipment saved us from destruction in the Yom Kippur War? Hasn't the United States given Israel billions of dollars that has enabled us to survive all these years? My dear friends, if you really believe that, I question your belief in G-d. While Richard Nixon gave us weapons it was G-d who led Israel to victory. Similarly, while America has given tens of billions of dollars to Israel, this did not ensure our survival. That is determined exclusively by our Father in Heaven and not by people living in white houses.

It must be clearly understood exactly why America supported Israel after 1967. Before that time Israel was weak and unstable but after the miraculous victory against 5 Arab armies in just 6 days, Israel proved her strength. It was then that America realized how advantageous it would be to align itself with the Jewish State. Remember this concept and engrave it on your hearts; America did not start supporting Israel because it was good for Israel. America started supporting Israel because it was good for America!

The US needed a strong ally in that region. Things with Russia were heating up and the Middle East was a vital area. This was not a game of Risk... this was real. America needed someone it could trust, someone who could provide intelligence on Russian made aircraft such as the MIG. America needed a country in the Middle East where it could store weapons, dock its naval fleet and with whom it could jointly train. Israel became that ally. Israel became that friend that America could count on 24/7 and this friendship gave America leverage it never had before.

Unfortunately, over the years, this became known as a one-sided deal. Even though Israel lived up to its share of the bargain, giving the US something it couldn't buy for all the money in the world, everyone conveniently forgot about Israel's role. The partnership dissolved and we became America's slaves. The master lived in Washington and we were forced to listen to his every word.

When Israel began developing the most advanced fighter jet in the world called the Lavi, America stopped it because it would have embarrassed Lockhead and McDonald Douglas. When Israel closed a multi-billion dollar military deal with China and India, America stopped it. These deals cost Israel billions in revenue and caused massive unemployment.

Did you know that every penny given by the US in military aid must be spent by Israel in America? Who does that help… Israeli companies or American ones? Did you know that all IDF uniforms are made in Oklahoma and Kentucky when 20,000 Jewish garment workers are unemployed? Israel must pay full retail for these uniforms as they  simultaneously pay welfare to poverty stricken Jews who are out of work. Did you know that the entire financial aid given to Israel is less than 2% of Israel's GNP? Did you know that during the first Gulf War (1991) America cancelled the huge debt that Egypt had towards America yet refused to do the same for Israel?

Please understand that the money given by America is like a person running with a metal ball and chain. It pulls us down. It makes us feel dependent and it the main reason why Israeli Prime Ministers run to Washington more than they visit the Kotel.

Finally, it must be stressed that since Israel has the "qualitative" edge in American military aid, the "quantitative" advantage goes to the Arabs. This is why 5 out of every 6 bullets and guns going to the Middle East must go to the Arabs, primarily Egypt. Syria today is not a threat to Israel because it has never received American support but the #1 enemy in the region is Egypt. They have all the latest weapons and 5 times as much as Israel has! Many of these American supplied weapons are being smuggled into Gaza and used to kill Jews. Is it worth it?

Israel needs to stand on its own two feet. America can be our partner but not our master. The Jewish State does not need handouts or a yearly "fix". We are a proud people. We are G-d's chosen and He will provide for us. The concept that "G-d helps those who help themselves" means that we are allowed to enter into business deals and work hard to provide an income but we must never forget that ultimately -- He is the source of our livelihood. The current arrangement where the world (including many Jews) sees America as the sole provider for Israel is a huge desecration of G-d's Name. This drags us down, forces our weak leaders to sign away parts of our Promised Land and ultimately causes us to forget G-d completely.

Once again it is the morning prayers that gives us the direction, and once again it is in a chapter of Psalms (20), "Some come with chariots and others with horses but we call out in the Name of G-d our G-d. They slumped and fell but we arose and were invigorated." Let us never forget that.