Americans’ ardent support for Israel is palpable in poll after poll showing far greater sympathy for the Jewish state than for Palestinians.

It’s evidenced in the vote in the last U.S. Congress to top up American funding for Israel’s missile-defence system: a lopsided result of 420 to 9.

So that American backing is not in question; it’s a decades-long reality and was just reinforced with the blood-curdling massacre of Israeli civilians by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.

What’s less certain is the reaction from one important constituency as Israel expands its counter-offensive in Gaza and as the death toll mounts among Palestinian civilians.

We’re talking about the U.S. left. It’s virtually the only place in American politics where there might be a debate — over what’s acceptable in war, and about a path back to peace.

And signs are emerging of Democrats wanting to pressure Israel into abiding by certain limits in its operation.

  • @Ducks
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    • @alvvayson
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      71 year ago

      Israel is more a liability than an asset. And they are a very expensive liability.

      Egypt and the gulf states are much more strategically important for the USA and Europe. Which is why MBS could brutally murder Kashoggi and still get Biden to come hat in hand for support

      The main, and basicslly only, reason to support Israel is US domestic politics.

      And those attitudes are rapidly shifting.

      https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2022/07/11/american-views-of-israel/

      • @Ducks
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        • @alvvayson
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          21 year ago

          You might want to drink a little less koolaid and research a little more realpolitik.

          When Israel declared independence in 1948, the CIA and other intelligence services advised against recognizing their independence to avoid upsetting Arab allies, but Truman did so because the public opinion was in favor.

          Saudi-Arabia has been by far the most important American ally since the end of WW2, even if it’s mostly been an alliance of begrudging mutual benefit instead of one of respect.

          The whole petrodollar world order was built on that alliance.

          • @Ducks
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            • @generalpotato
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              01 year ago

              Gotta agree with the other guy here. You’re sort of talking out of your ass. The ME en masse is allied with the US or can be an ally to the US if the US didn’t support Israel and took a neutral stance on the Palestine issue. Iran is the only place that is openly against the US but even they have shown the willingness to come to talks were the US had a policy more favorable to peace and stability in the region (ala Obama’s deal with Iran).

              • @Ducks
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        • PugJesus
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          11 year ago

          They may be strategically important, but the US can basically guarantee loyalty from the Israelis.

          Sure, all you have to do is endure American citizens getting domed for the crime of being journalists, paying spies to fetch US nuclear secrets, sabotaging US diplomatic efforts, selling US secrets to China, etc etc etc.

    • @shalafi
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      61 year ago

      “Israel is the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk, does not carry even one American soldier, and is located in a critical region for American national security.”

      — Alexander Haig