Hmmmmm.... examples please? I really don't see Israel as being in a position to pressure America. Lobby yes, but if Israel told America to go take a hike, that could not be termed pressure, as if the reverse were true that would be lots of pressure.
monday: Hmmmmm.... examples please? I really don't see Israel as being in a position to pressure America. Lobby yes, but if Israel told America to go take a hike, that could not be termed pressure, as if the reverse were true that would be lots of pressure.
Remember when Bush Senior tried to tie $10 billion in loan guarantees to a building ban in the occupied territories. AIPAC put 1000 lobbyists on the street the next day to pressure congress. Bush caved but it was too late. The Israel lobby came down hard for Clinton, who won going away. That's a lesson that no one in the Bush family will ever forget, including our boy dubya.
As for American pressure on Israel, it largely consists mere words, announcing at a press conference that one thing or another "isn't helpful." Real pressure isn't mere words. It's the ability to throw someone out of office.
As far as the U.S. abandoning Israel, it's never going to happen and that's true even though it's not clear at this point that Israel needs our help anyway, given that it has neutron bombs, missiles, F-16s and the world's fourth largest army. The Arabs have diddlysquat and they turn and run when anyone says boo.