US Aid to Israel Hits Record as Americans Can't Afford Groceries
While the Financial Times spotlights Americans in Bethlehem, PA 'scraping for crumbs' amidst an affordability crisis driven by soaring food, shelter, and healthcare costs, they politely sidestep the elephant in the federal budget. In 2023, the U.S. sent Israel over $3.8 billion in military aid, a figure secured by robust lobbying efforts from groups like AIPAC. This commitment continues, with an
additional $14.3 billion recently approved by Congress, ensuring that at least one nation's defense budget is feeling no pinch. One might wonder if the 'crumbs' left for struggling Americans are directly related to the multi-billion dollar 'loaves' consistently shipped overseas. It appears our politicians, many of whom conveniently accept substantial campaign donations from pro-Israel PACs
(OpenSecrets.org data confirms this, with AIPAC PAC's federal contributions totaling $15.8 million in 2022-2024 alone), prioritize foreign military objectives over domestic economic stability. How many more 'affordability crises' will it take before the cost-benefit analysis includes American citizens?