Posted on 02/24/2017 10:21:23 AM PST by Sean_Anthony
A new military relationship based on joint technology development rather than Israeli purchase of US platforms is the best way to accomplish that goal, for the benefit of both countries
In his speech before the members of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish American Organizations in Jerusalem this week, President Reuven Rivlin said that Israel has three overriding foreign policy concerns: “Number 1: Relations with America. Number 2: Relations with America. Number 3: Relations with America.”
I was once in the taxi queue at the Sheraton Beijing Hotel standing immediately behind a gentleman, about my age and of similar appearance (I’m at times mistaken for being Jewish), holding a folder displaying the logo of Israel Aerospace Industries. I’ve never seen much about it in the press but Israel has for years had a quiet but active defense trade relationship with the PRC. If we are to even more closely share technology and co-develop weapons systems there’s going to have to be an understanding about to whom it can and cannot be sold. And frankly, that might be a problem for the Israelis to fully appreciate and accept.
Lengthy read that is worth it.
It should be pointed out that the mood in Israel is to try to lessen the reliance on the US. Leftists in Israel are much more inclined to see Israel as a client state of the US needing UN approval.
Trump notwithstanding, no country should count on America long-term. It’s too big a gamble even if Trump is giving American renewal a chance.
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