US-Israel Pact: Eternal Aid for Endless War
📰 THE STORY: According to the Financial Times, Israel is seeking a new military pact with the United States, described as a 'major' agreement to formalize and potentially expand existing defense commitments. This comes as US arms shipments to Israel continue unabated amid the ongoing assault on Gaza. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: This 'new' pact isn't new; it's a further
entrenchment of a patronage system that began in earnest after the 1967 Six-Day War. Since 1948, the US has provided Israel with over $160 billion in aid, mostly military. In 2016, the Obama administration signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding, granting Israel $38 billion in military assistance through 2028. This isn't a pact between equals; it's a blank check for an occupying power. Double
Standard: Imagine any other nation, with 40,000+ civilians dead in recent months and facing ICJ genocide charges, openly negotiating a 'major military pact' with the world's superpower. If Russia or China attempted this after similar operations, they would be universally condemned, sanctioned, and labeled pariahs. Yet, for Israel, it's presented as a routine, even commendable, diplomatic maneuver.
The same FT would likely decry such a move as 'destabilizing' if it involved US adversaries. Follow the Money: The military-industrial complex is the primary beneficiary. US defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Boeing reap billions from these agreements. In 2022, Lockheed Martin, for example, reported $66 billion in net sales, with a significant portion tied to foreign military sales.