PH Quickie: What if Israel paid for Iron Dome itself?
An Israeli Iron Dome anti-rocket system, right, and an American Patriot missile defense system are shown during a joint U.S.-Israel military exercise on March 8, 2018. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)
by Kathryn Shihadah
Israel partisans are getting all bent out of shape (I was going to say “up in arms,” but that’s too on point) about the removal of the Iron Dome funding from the defense spending bill. “It’s for the children!” they say. “It’s for civilians. Israel must protect its children and civilians.”
Indeed – Israel must do that.
US taxpayers can’t be expected to pay for replenishment of Israel’s stockpiles every time it decides to make trouble in Gaza (and receive trouble in return). If Israel wants to fight a “war,” then it should budget for a war – perhaps using the $3.8 billion it already receives from the US in military aid.
Gazan rockets are homemade and cheap (perhaps $100 in many cases) , and rarely do much damage. They also rarely kill. In 20 years, about 50 Israelis have died from these rockets, while over 4,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes..
Iron Dome anti-missile missiles cost at least $100,000 a pop, every time a little Hamas rocket seems to be headed toward an Israeli population center.
If Israel had to pay for its own Iron Dome expenses, it might think twice before inciting trouble with Gaza. Israel can’t afford to shoot down Hamas’ little rockets forever without American tax dollars. Israel would have to put on its big-boy pants and take responsibility for its actions. When you oppress and blockade a people group, they will fight back.
Maybe, just maybe, if we stop the blank check, Israel would have to negotiate a just peace.
Here’s another idea – from If Americans Knew: if Israel’s civilians are protected by a US-funded Iron Dome anti-missile system, how about the US also fund a similar system for Gaza’s civilians? (Read here, and contact your Congress members.)
Palestinian lives, after all, are equal in value to Israeli lives.