undefined | Better HN

0 pointstacheiordache2y ago0 comments

> the US is willing to at least work with Israel

What do you mean at least work with Israel? The US is propping up Israel and without that ally Israel would probably implode. What’s messed up is how disrespectful Israel and some of their politicians are to US and their citizens. One thing I like about Israel is that they have a variety of oppinions and schools of thought. What we’re currently seeing is coming from the radical right wing and those atrocities will unfortunately stain Israelis of all types. Hope they do at the next elections.

0 comments

6 comments · 2 top-level

lenerdenator2y ago· 4 in thread

Israel is a postindustrial economy with a 600,000-man military reserve and (unofficially) a nuclear arsenal of the size and capability needed to destroy the society of any industrialized nation on Earth.

Almost all of the support and protection they've received from the US since October has been mainly to keep leverage on Netanyahu and to keep the war from spreading across the Middle East. For example, if Iran's missiles had bombarded Tel Aviv, you're probably going to see Israel bombarding Tehran, which could pull in Iraq, etc., and Israel has yet to lose a fight against its regional neighbors.

They don't need the US to prop them up economically or militarily, which should bring about a conversation about support come next budget, but I doubt it.

I too would like to see a more moderate group in charge.

mike502y ago

Which Israeli defense contractors build airplanes and tanks? Without aircraft and spares you cannot have a modern military. The US absolutely props up Israeli with weapons and military technology that they do not produce in country. Waving around nuclear weapons and a massive number of troops are the actions of states that are weaker then project as (Russia DPRK).

JumpCrisscross2y ago

> Which Israeli defense contractors build airplanes and tanks?

Neither do the North Koreans [1][2]? (Caveats [3][4].)

America dropping Israel simply means it finds a new supplier. Russia is out of the picture, given its dependence on Iran, but China and India would be more than willing to supply.

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_People's_Army_Air_For...

[2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanks_of_North_Korea

[3] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokpung-ho

[4] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkava

1 more reply

nsguy2y ago

Israel did use to build fighter jets. It built the Kfir. It planned to build a next gen airplane (The Lavi) but was pressured by the US to cancel that plan and instead buy F16s. The US also affects control of what Israeli weapons systems can be sold to who. Presumably part of the agreement to cancel the Lavi project was some sort of US commitment to supply Israel instead.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Lavi

shiroiushi2y ago

>you're probably going to see Israel bombarding Tehran, which could pull in Iraq

Why would Israel bombing Tehran pull in Iraq? Iraq and Iran have never been friends.

mrkeen2y ago

> What we’re currently seeing is coming from the radical right wing and those atrocities will unfortunately stain Israelis of all types. Hope they do at the next elections.

Wishful thinking, regardless of which elections your talking about. In the US, both sides are working hard to prop up Israel. In Israel before October, Netanyahu was on trial for fraud, bribery and breach of trust. Who's even talking about that anymore? Now he gets to be a war Prime Minister.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse