The Daily Clarity

When the logic fails – US to pay $900M for Gaza repairs

We are reviewing the latest twist of the US-Israeli relationship today with satire, because we think that otherwise the US populace might actually get angered by this. We believe that most people can agree that there is little question that the US is in economic crisis. President Obama is searching for savings across the board to fund his stimulus package, and at the same time pay down the deficit – a heady and challenging  objective. We have the concept of ‘zombie banks’ being openly discussed - essentially dead men walking – banks that are to all intents and purposes bankrupt despite government aid. Against the backdrop of this economic nuclear winter, today there are reports that the US is donating $900 million to rebuild the infrastructure in the Gaza damaged by the recent  Israeli incursion. Why is this the US responsibility to repair? Why isn’t the party that caused the damage expected to fix it?  How is it, in any sense, logical that Israel can walk away, reseal the borders, and look to the world, and particularly the US, to pick up their tab? In a search for logic, we turn to the Israeli Government for an explanation.

However, the Israeli Government’s says it is  unwilling to take responsibility for the Gaza incursion in the first place, so then can’t be expected to foot the bill. Amnesty International issued a report condemning the military action, and calling on the world to ban further arm sales to both Israel and Hamas in an attempt to limit future violence. At first blush, it seems an issue at least worthy of  some debate, but Israel  cried ‘foul’. Foreign Minister, Livni, issued a statement that shows a different understanding of the events. She said,  “…the international community has accepted the fact that Hamas was solely responsible for the military confrontation, but the Amnesty report is dedicated almost exclusively to the censure of Israel.”

Livni was careful in her phraseology. She said “almost exclusively to the censure of Israel”. This somehow makes it appear as if any censure of Israel by Amnesty International in relation he Gaza is illegitimate, or biased at minimum. Another part of Livni’s comment is illuminating when she says “…international community has accepted the fact that Hamas was solely responsible.” Here Livni forgets, conveniently, the limiter she used in her other sentence - she implies all the international community solely blame Hamas. This claim would not be true. This claim would not be true even if she claimed all Israelis, all Jews or all non-Arabs blamed Hamas solely. There is substantial world debate as to the causes and blame for the latest violence, so it is a blatant misstatement of the facts. So to paraphrase Livni’s claim into simple speak,  ’ all the world blames Hamas, and Amnesty is only blaming Israel.’ While at the same time the US ponies up $900 million to repair the damage. This is a good deal for Israel.

This would not be the sole extent of the US contribution to the Gaza attack. either  To quote the Amnesty Report in terms of arms supply:

“Since 2001, the Unites States has been Israel’s main supplier of conventional weapons, the report states. The figures Amnesty obtained show that from 2004 to 2007, the total value of U.S.-supplied arms to Israel stood at some $8.3 billion.  The report also notes that since 2002, Israel has received military and security aid to the tune of $21 billion, of which $19 billion was direct military aid. “Put simply, Israel’s military intervention in the Gaza Strip has been equipped to a large extent by U.S.-supplied weapons, munitions and military equipment paid for with U.S. taxpayers’ money.”  A 10-year agreement, in force until 2017, stipulates that the United States will supply Israel with military aid totaling $30 billion. “

So, in a fascinating turn of events, the US both paid for, in large part, the arms that caused the damage, forgives Israel any potential for weapons misuse (phosphorus, depleted uranium and such) which one would think at least warrants investigation,  and then offers to pay for the damage caused. Now that is the sort of bail out package the US economy needs - all care, no blame.  Satire aside, there is a need to reevaluate the level of fiscal support provide to Israel in totality. We applaud the US humanitarian impulse  to contribute to the Gaza repair, but it should at least be deducted from the billions of arms that the US still intends to donate to the Israelis. Otherwise, there is no logic at all to the equation, but maybe in relation to the US-Israeli relationship there never is.