The two former U.S. ambassadors to Israel claim that the aid provides 'no leverage or influence' over Israeli decisions, and cause U.S. to seem like ‘enablers’ of Israel’s occupation\
WASHINGTON - Two former U.S. ambassadors to Israel on Saturday called upon the Biden administration to cut military assistance to Israel, arguing that the U.S.-Israel relationship would be better suited without a sense of financial dependency.
Speaking to the New York Times' Nick Kristof, one of the more influential columnists in liberal circles, former ambassadors Dan Kurtzer and Martin Indyk were among the figures to state the time has come for a new approach to the U.S.-Israel relationship not centered on foreign aid.
“Israel’s economyis strong enough that it does not need aid; security assistance distorts Israel’s economy and creates a false sense of dependency,” Kurtzer told Kristof.
“Aid provides the U.S. with no leverage or influence over Israeli decisions to use force; because we sit by quietly while Israel pursues policies we oppose, we are seen as ‘enablers’ of Israel’s occupation,” he continued, adding that “U.S. aid provides a multibillion-dollar cushion that allows Israel to avoid hard choices of where to spend its own money and thus allows Israel to spend more money on policies we oppose, such as settlements.”
Indyk, who also served as U.S. special Middle East peace envoy, said “Israel can afford it, and it would be healthier for the relationship if Israel stood on its own two feet."
The argument comes at a time when the U.S.-Israel relationship is under perhaps the most significant strain it has ever encountered, given the Biden administration's deep displeasure with policies pursued by Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government relating to the judicial overhaul, settlement expansion and other matters relating to Israel's approach toward the Palestinians putting a potential two-state solution further out of reach.
The issue has only been exacerbated by Biden's refusal to formally invite Netanyahu to the White House for an official visit, resulting in dueling readouts that both sides claim intentionally misinterpret the general nature and specific points made during direct engagements between the two leaders.
Kristof's call further comes as Democrats become increasingly divided over the state of U.S.-Israel affairs, with progressive voices critical of Israel being formally cast as antisemitic by Republican rivals as the rest of the Democratic Party unsuccessfully seeks to avoid politicizing the issue.
While the judicial overhaul has forced many Democrats to consider whether it could continue offering unabashed support for Israel if it loses its standing as a democracy, senior U.S. officials used President Isaac Herzog's recent visit to insist that the relationship is ironclad and unbreakable.
"I think we’ve seen Israeli democracy in all of its vibrancy. It’s telling a remarkable story right now," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the Aspen Security Forum on Friday. "That’s playing out, and I’m confident the system will be able to deal effectively with it."