Israel As A Country Model For India
Soft state … soft target
The Indian State has often been accused of being ‘soft on terror.’ We are frequently reminded how we should consider patterning India along hard lines like Israel – which has ‘zero tolerance’ policy on ‘terrorism’. As proof, the Israeli actions against the perpetrators of the Munich massacre. Or the capture of Eichmann. The air raid of Entebbe is another example that is referred to, with a glow in the eye.
Israel’s Tenuous Existence
The first disqualification against accepting the Israeli State model is the fact it is heavily dependent on America, for fiscal and military aid – “since 1974 totals roughly $80 billion” and an article from Daily Times Of Pakistan says enviously “The United States has poured $140 billion into Israel since its formation”. That is about a US$56,000 for every Israeli family.
After all, (as NYT says)
America has vital long-term strategic interests in the Middle East. The gulf has well over 60 percent of the world’s proven conventional oil reserves and nearly 40 percent of its natural gas.
The Israel and USA tango - who is using whom!
To some it may look like a boon, but is surely the kiss of death.
American policymakers began regarding Israeli strength as an American asset in the Cold War, they supported significant aid as a matter of strategy, not charity. … American aid continues to flow to Israel. … critics on the opposite end of the political spectrum argue that while aid to Israel may be tied to the best of intentions, it does more harm than good to the Jewish State by propping up a big and inefficient government and making Israel dependent upon the U.S.
For how long can any country, society, individual survive on foreign largesse? Note how during the 1973, Arab Israeli War, the tide of battle finally turned when the massive US airlift of weapons, tanks, spares happened! Which itself, is self-serving – “American assistance, emerging as a disjointed policy that urges a peaceful resolution to the conflict while boosting military aid to Israel.”
Another client state of US, Pakistan enviously records, that
“Israel is the only country that receives all of its U.S. aid in a single package, while others only receive it in quarterly installments.” It continues, “Most recipients of military aid are obliged to spend it in the US but Israel is permitted to spend 25 percent of what it receives to subsidize its own defence industry,”…
Israel’s Future With Its Neighbours
The biggest Israeli failure is the state of permanent hostility it has engendered in the neighbourhood. Israel’s dysfunctional relationship with its neighbours has taken significant efforts from Israel – possibly, based on its superior ‘European’ extraction.
The Israel and USA tango - who is using whom!
How long can Israel depend on US support which since
“1982, … has vetoed 32 Security Council resolutions which were critical of Tel Aviv, a number that exceeds the total number of vetoes exercised by all other permanent member states put together.”
American support may change (linked to American decline?) with time – but Israel’s neighbourhood is not changing!
The Persecution of Palestinians
The logic for the creation of Israel was persecution of Jews in Europe. Within 10 years, the same ‘persecuted’ Jews, allied themselves with their former persecutors and invaded Egypt – precipitating the Suez crisis. Thus the very logic of the creation of the Israeli state was corrupted within 10 years.
The subsequent occupation of neighbouring territories was a continuation of this policy of aggressive expansionism based on European and later American support.
Israel’s population is less than Pune
Pune’s official population of 45 lakhs is close to Israel’s population of 72 lakhs.
The only logic for Israeli policy is the probable Israeli intention. Is it that they are not staying in the neighbourhood after (or when, if you prefer) American aid ceases?
India with a population of 110 crores, has no such option.
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Its almost scary to admit it. I have been thinking about that for
the past years, and sertainly now with the cleansing of Palestinians, and
of course the racism…it starts to remind me about the nazi – regime.
This reminds me of the extreme nationalists that started their percecution of the jews aronound seventy years ago. Its really hurtful to see this extremism coming back.
Im not saying that islamic regimes doesnt do the same kind of extremism, because in fact Iran for instance legalize Holocaust – denial, and of course theres very little democrazy in these countries, but still: I think Israels way of supporting freedom of speech is just to injust.
And I tell you I am half arab, and I am very interested in learning about the terrors of the Holocaust, Ive been against it all my life. I used to watch a lot of documentarys about it those three years ago, and I think it is important for everyone to learn.
But that goes for the Israelis as well. No one should be excused in permitting things like genocide.
YES the jews where percecuted for several years especially by the catholic church.
Now thats horrible, but people need to learn from it in even todays society, whoever they are.
Mari – The State of Israel is using the Holocaust for its own political ends – and learnt no lessons from that.
Consider: -
1. Along with the Jews in Nazi concentration camps, were the Roma Gypsies. The Roma Gypsies were not as organized or prosperous as the Jews – and hence have not been able to get any justice for the last 70 years. Does the State of Israel have any empathy for those who have suffered along with them? None whatsoever.
2. The treatment of the Palestinians by Israel is matter of national shame. To see Israel become the cat’s paw of the US in the Middle East is an inversion of the logic used to create the State of Israel.
3. These aspects of the Israeli behaviour makes me doubt Israeli intentions. US support cannot continue ad infinitum, and their response after they stop getting using US support will be interesting.
[...] In fact, Jews today serve a useful purpose to the West. After the Anglo-Saxon led alliance broke up the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East, the Israelis are the Western cat’s paw. [...]
[...] Hammurabi’s legal code of “an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth.” Of course, the modern state of Israel follows the system of two eyes and all your teeth, if you hurt my one [...]
Short and sweet. Though a question lingers – Britain colonised India and via deliberate political-economic policies plundered its resources and oppressed the indigenous people, should we call this – oppression by British India (or in a more drastic version, assuming India part of Britain, as claimed by the then rulers, oppression by Britain) against its own native population or should we call it British colonial/imperial oppression of (or simply British oppression of ) India, if we go for the latter we accept the foremost and inalienable right of the natives on their land. Not only this, if we go with the latter, thus deny the legitimacy of the British colonial rule in India. Though we inadvertenly reject this logic when it comes to Palestine by accepting Israel as a legitimate state and not as American-European colony imposed on the Palestine by the racist anti-semite American-European Christendom.
I think the answer to your question is the difference between legality and legitimacy. The State of Israel was formed after many legal manoeuvrings – which still does NOT make it legitimate. Legitimacy will be derived from its treatment of its (and other) people and citizens.
@ Anurag – “The State of Israel was formed after many legal manoeuvrings- which still does make it legitimate.” – so was Britsh Empire installed in India with all the fanfare after 1857, by the Government of India Act 1858, legal? yes if we accept the Brits’ right to decide the fate of India and their brown subjects. Similarly, was installation of Israel in Palestine legal? yes if we accept Brits’ right to decide the fate of its mandate (read colony). But a thumping no if we stand with the indgenous people for their inalienable right to decide the fate of their lands. Legality always serves the class which designs its definition.
CD – A million apologies.
I missed out the most important word – which is NOT. I have added that now.
The State of Israel may be legal, which to me is worthless discussion, if the State indulges in illegitimate activity.
And the Israeli attempts to suppress the Palestinians is MOST definitely, illegitimate.
@ Anurag – Cheers mate, keep up the good work, you’re bringing together a plethora of disparate info regarding South Asia (or India, Hind, Bhaarat or whatever one prefers to call it).
[...] only have to look at a failed state like Israel, to understand where ‘false’ persecutions can take you. Where would Israel be – without US ICU [...]
[...] understand the ramifications of a ‘relationship’ with a state like Israel, which is a proxy for the Western Oil interests in the Middle East. The only logic for Israeli policy is the probable Israeli intention. Is it that they are not [...]
[...] of the oldest religions in the world, the Jewish population, across the world, and in Israel, today faces an existential challenge. With 0.25% of world population, i.e. less than 1.5 crore Jews left, in a world of more than 600 [...]
[...] of the Ottoman Empire, USA’s baleful story started immediately after WW2. The creation of the US cat’s paw in the Middle East – Israel. Less than 1,00,000 Jews were considered more important than the 5,00,000 [...]
[...] (propped up by massive US aid) is another country which has been a republican democracy for more than 50 years. Switzerland (with guaranteed neutrality from the European powers) [...]