The Relationship between Israel and the United States

Over the past several months the main stream media has been reporting of the strained relationship between between Obama and Netanyahu. While it's well known that these two leaders don't like one another, it's not the first time that a President of the United States, and the Prime Minister of Israel have not got along.

American Presidents over the past 20 years have a history of not getting along. This has been causing conflict between Americans presidents and more conservative Israeli leaders for over 20 years. George H.W. Bush and allies in Congress refused $10 billion in loan guarantees because Likud Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir wouldn't accept Bush's conditions limiting spending on West Bank settlements. George W. Bush rescinded $289.5 million worth of loan guarantees to punish Ariel Sharon, also of the Likud, for settlement expansion.

In 1996, Bill Clinton all but openly campaigned against Netanyahu, inviting incumbent Prime Minister Shimon Peres to visit the White House just before the vote. Clinton (correctly) believed Peres would be more receptive to his push for a peace agreement. Netanyahu won the election, chilling relations between Washington and Jerusalem until Ehud Barak ousted him in 1999.

While American Presidents have had their issues with Israel, the relationship is still a very strong one. Not only does the United States give financial aid to Israel every year, they also support Israel with weapons to help them defend themselves against aggression by their Arab neighbors. They also share intelligence, and technology, like the development of the Iron Dome Defense System.

On the issue with Iran, I believe that it's very important to first try and get an agreement in place before taking military action. With an agreement in place, it would give the world a chance to have inspectors, and surveillance equipment installed at their nuclear facilities across the country. Without an agreement, Iran will go unchecked in their quest to get nuclear weapons. Latest intelligence estimates claim that Iran has at least 6 facilities that could not be taken out by bombing alone, and would require the use of ground forces to locate and destroy. It should also be noted that this agreement would not be just between the United States and Iran, but between the major powers in the world.

President Obama has made it very clear that if no agreement is reached, he's not ruled out the use of military force to ensure that Iran does not get nuclear weapons. Iran has been backed into a corner with the sanctions that the Obama administration has placed on Iran with the help of most nations around the world.

So people, if two world leaders don't like one another, as is the case between Obama and Netanyahu, it's not the end of the world, nor is it the end to the strong relationship between Israel and the United States.

Until Next Time!!