The US needs to stop meddling in foreign affairs and invest in ourselves. Why on earth do we give Israel $38 Bill in aid annually?! Then they expand in Mid-East and threaten the 2 state solution

I agree that the settlements are wrong and am glad we called Israel out on that. But, the aid we give other countries is really complicated. We give tons of aid to countries with far worse relationships with us for a variety of reasons. It's also *probably* in our best interests to have Israel remain dominant over its neighbors. Nearly all of the aid we give Israel comes back to the US because it's caveated that they spend it on American goods/military businesses. We also pretty much have leverage over Israel that no other country can wield because they are beholden to us. Etc etc

Yes the settlements are wrong but as the dominant world economy foreign aid is a tool we use in many ways - the answer is far more complex than to just stop giving them financial aid. And I'm a pretty adamant supporter of the 2 state solution- but we give far more financial support to countries with way more adversarial relationships with us that we get much less back from. Propping up Israel benefits us for various reasons. Just my $0.02

@D1 - I did mean "the Jews" because they are the ones going around saying that the land was given to them by God and that is their right only and anyone to debate that fact is quickly called anti Semitic. I do know the difference between Jews and Israelis and I have met both and have dear friends that are jewish and Israeli but also met some who you cannot talk peace with. What's funny is when you sit on an airplane next to an Israeli who has never seen or talked to a Palestinian and after several hours of chit chat, you open their eyes and hearts that Palestinians are human too. I remember as a child our neighbors in East Jerusalem consisting of Muslim, Jewish and Christians all living side by side and playing with all the kids in harmony and the old Jewish ladies in the neighborhood visiting my grandmother. Those days are long gone. @C1 the "no existence of Israel" was in an old Hammas doctrine that has long been removed. That terminology no longer exists and Hammas no longer spreads that word since many years ago but the Israeli lobbyists in the US govt and the Israeli biased media and Israeli govt will keep spinning old drama and doctrines to keep the conflict going in their best interest so they can keep illegally grabbing land for all the Jewish settlers they continue to immigrate into the country from around the world, as long as you can promise you are Jewish you can immigrate to Israel and given housing and income so they need more land to build more illegal settlements to house them all in to continue their agenda. I think we will all continue to disagree on this topic and their are passionate views on both sides so it's best not to discuss on fb. I just wanted to tell my first hand look on what is happening because most Americans don't know the entire truth.

I'm glad President Obama and the UN had the courage to finally call Israel out on their BS. They make us more vulnerable to terrorist attacks with their antics.

Lol a2. No. You're insane.

Uhhh. A2, you don't get to tell other folks that they shouldn't discuss politics then assert your opinion as if it's fact. Typical.

LOL @ "Palestinians are terrorists"

?!! A2, so we should blindly support wrong actions just by virtue of the fact we have allies? That's not independent thinking. You sir, should also study the agreement we hand 8 years ago with Israel to cease expansion which they agreed on. Now they want more expansion? Wait, let me get this straight. You have a contract then you go behind and break that contract coz no one is looking?! Plz

Can I just say it's frustrating to see any argument regarding Israel immediately move to histrionics? ACN2, disagreeing with actions of a nation state does not make you a hater of those people by definition...

Seriously?

Not the place for a political debate. But Israel is an ally and the 2 state solution (and possibly US involvement in the UB) died with Obamas anti Semitic action on a false censure and hypocrisy last week.

You need to study the issue. Palestinians have no claim to any land, and are terrorists.

I'd avoid saying anything if I were you. You can't have this discussion if anyone who disagrees with you calls you an anti Semite

In addition, my main thing is with the amount of money we give them it's not even policy on expansion. Can we freaking put that money into the AMERICAN people ?! Our economy, Education, Safety, Roads, high speed rails, Technology etc

We should use a lot of that money to target poor countries in Africa and the Middle East. Terrorist organizations are targeting those countries, providing them with aid, food, and anti American messaging. We can battle terrorism by holding Israel to a higher standard and using some of that cash to support other nations so that terrorist networks can't grow.

Lol gang up on A2. I'm Jewish and that guy is a loony.

We need to give Texas, CA etc back by the actions we called Israel on, they were attacked, they won, that's their land now.

I'm appalled that my firm (ACN1) employs and ant-Semite

My biggest peeve is how Israeli PM utterly disrespects our president and calls him anti-Israel despite the $38 billion he gave away to Israel. We would never tolerate this kind of behavior from any other country.

For full disclosure- I am an American Jew and the grandchild of two holocaust survivors. I've been to Israel many times and have family that stayed there after being expelled from Germany. I feel very strongly about israels right to defense.

I also firmly believe the expansionary settlements are wrong and deserve to be condemned. I don't agree that a two state solution is infeasible.

Didn't want to pull the "im jewish" card but when I see people shouting down any criticism of Israel as antisemetic rhetoric that only people "with no skin in the game" believe it makes me sad. This issue will never be solved if we can't accept that neither side is blameless

A2 if someone doesn't agree with Israel that doesn't make them Anti-Semite, grow up. And that land does belong to Palestinians!

I am an American and also a Palestinian, that is my heritage and my culture and I will not handle that or be embarrassed by it. I have lived in the US most of my 30+ years but also go home to Palestine every year or so to see my family still living their under occupation. I have seen the settlement encrouchment happening for years, the land grabbing, the exiling of people from their homes using the "area c" order, the constant checkpoints, abuse, oppression and apartheid happening there all across the land as well as in East Jerusalem on Arab occupied land. I have been there and even with an American passport I am treated as a second class citizen and interrogated constantly. I have Palestinian home and land there given to me by grand great grand parents, yes my family has been there for generations so there is no one that can tell me that the land belongs to the Jews. And no we are not all terrorists, some of us want peace and to live together in harmony, but constantly stealing people's land and using the land belongs to the Jews card is bullshit and will only cause more conflict. Trumps presidency will make things worse because neither he or his Mid East envoy respect the Palestinians or their claim to the land and complete government sovereignty.

It's not that simple. Unfortunately if we stop providing the aid we do around the world, Russia and or other players will be more than happy to step in and become sugar daddy.

I think we should continue to support Israel give that they are they only democracy in the region and are significantly progressive over their neighbors that stone and kill women for adultery or even going to school for that matter... same for the gay community. On the other hand, we can't blindly back everything they do right or wrong, and Netanyahu has played that card for years knowing we won't call him on his bluff.

I second that ^