Saturday, July 26, 2008

Wean Israel off U.S. welfare

Exclusive: Dave Hanson asserts American billions threaten Jewish state's liberty, future
Posted: July 26, 2008
1:00 am Eastern

Tekiah, shevarim-teruah, tekiah; tekiah, shevarim, tekiah; tekiah, teruah, tekiah gadola

The sound of the shofar horn proclaims a time of worship. Hot on its heels come cordial calls of "Shabbat Shalom" as the congregation prepares for another festive day of praise. Thus begins another service at my local messianic synagogue. Their level of devotion to biblical study and passion for Yeshua is enough to leave many American McChurches blushing. That's what keeps me coming back for more over the past few years. Authenticity is a diminishing national resource.

And so it pains me to see beloved Israel continue to be crippled by the United States' ever-growing foreign welfare program. Annually, the U.S. provides approximately $3 billion in subsidies to Israel. With these tax dollars, we have created a dependent welfare recipient whose sovereignty and safety are ever compromised. Fundamentally, my objection to this policy stems from my support for a foreign policy of strategic independence as mandated by the founders of our country. George Washington understood the proper care of a republic: "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world." However, my stance is equally grounded in a desire to see Israel prosper. But first, I have some myth-busting to do.

Our government does not help Israel. Obadiah Shoher writes in IsraelENews.com, "The annual subsidies are bribes at worst, payments [for influence] at best." Shoher goes on to note that an estimated 77 percent of the funds D.C. gives Israel goes to American weapons dealers. Consequently, Israel is totally reliant on these overseas military contractors for parts and supplies.

On matters of defense, Israel's welfare status places it under virtual jurisdiction of the U.S. State Department. This political pressure can urge unwise concessions to Israel's enemies. In 1981, Israel used U.S.-made aircraft to disable Iraq's Osirak nuclear facility. Washington joined the U.N. in condemning Israel for defending herself against Iraq. Recently, during Israel's 2006 retaliation against Hezbollah, our government officials ineffectively tried to micromanage the Israeli campaign. Even now, U.S. meddling only proves to be a hindrance for Israel in her dealings with Iran. Because we insist on being the policeman in the affair, Iran leverages our destabilized economy and military exhaustion to bluster Israel without fear of reprisal. Unleashed from U.S. control, a nuclear-equipped Israel would certainly discourage Ahmadinejad's grandstanding.

We like to hedge our bets. In fact, Washington actually gives more arms to Israel's rivals. For example, we provide millions to the Palestinians – some of which heads to terror groups. Likewise, the Egyptians swim in a sea of green each year with 1.3 billion U.S. tax dollars going to their not exactly pro-Israel military. An additional $500 million goes to Egypt's internal affairs, which as journalist Allan Wall points out, includes anti-American/Israeli state media propaganda and Christian persecution. And last year, the U.S. offered squeaky-clean Saudi Arabia a $20 billion dollar advanced arms deal. As dire recession stalks, American citizens continue to endure theft to arm all sides of the Middle East, whose residents mostly wish us hell for it. Didn't Reagan warn us about that? (Tellingly, one of the few nations that doesn't receive U.S. weaponry has one of the most pro-American populations in the region: Iran. Never fear though; D.C. will surely try to fix that.)

It is not conservative to subsidize Israel. Since when has it ever been conservative to put any entity on welfare? Good intentions matter not; welfare deviously destroys the ability to self-survive. D.C.'s intervention has propped up bureaucratic corruption and delayed long due reform of a socialistic Israeli government. Liberty and prosperity are sacrificed.

And here. I'll just say it. Any Beltway twinkle toes that whispers "anti-Semitism" every time someone suggests helping Israel off welfare needs to stop groveling at the feet of FDR and get a real job. To the rest of America: Is it racist to wean poor minorities off the welfare plantation here at home? Didn't think so. Same goes for Israel.

Mister Christian, the time has come. U.S. policy on Israel is not biblical. What? Thought the Church of Humanism had some sort of WWJD department? Afraid not.

Many Christians believe Washington's "support" for Israel is grounded in verses such as Genesis 12:2-3: "I will make you into a great nation. ... I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse." In reality, our government's intervention fits more aptly into the curse category. Depleting Israel's sovereignty, propping up economy-sapping statism and arming Israel's regional rivals is certainly no blessing.

Washington has led the way in dividing the land of Israel. We helped compel Israel to give up the Gaza Strip. Moreover, our "Road Map to Peace" attempts to ration Jerusalem itself. I humbly advise Christians concerned with Genesis 12 to read Joel 3:1-2:

"I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land." [emphasis added]

Oops.

It's also patently ironic that some of the biggest evangelical cheerleaders for U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran squabble use the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39 to justify their position. They believe that Iran and Russia's soft-alliance could fulfill the Persian-led invasion of Israel as predicted in the Ezekiel passages. Unfortunately, these well-meaning evangelicals have injected statism into their interpretation of the text. Ezekiel 39:3 quotes not Uncle Sam but God as he responds to the invaders: "And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand."

There is a fatal flaw to the entire state-centered premise Christians have accepted. Most Christians rightly understand Christ's edicts to help the poor (e.g. Luke 14:13: "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.") to be directed at the individual initiative, not an all-powerful welfare state. In the same manner, Christians concerned with blessing Israel should assume self-responsibility to make it happen. Blessing Israel means rolling back Washington's debilitating intervention and offering personal prayer, donation and time for the country's needs.

I love Israel. Her people. Her land. Her heritage. Even her matzo ball soup. I hate what our federal government is doing to her. We all should.

I think the ancient shofar's message to us speaks for itself:

"Wake up from your moral sleep. You are asleep. Get up from your slumber. You are in a deep sleep. Search for your behavior. ... Remember God, the One Who created you."

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