Thread by @lennybendavid

"The Palestinian peace process died of natural causes. Washington’s most extraordinary alliance with Israel should too," writes a very misguided Steven Cook who promotes foreign policy of the last century.
Inappropriate in an age of cyber, F-35, Hi-Tech. foreignpolicy.com/2020/05/20/isr…

We heard "end the special relationship" with Israel from policymakers going back to Kissinger's reassessment, Baker, Fulbright, Carter, Brzezinski, & Obama's "daylight."
Israel doesn't need economic loans or grants to buy wheat or resettle refugees.
Why does it need military aid?

/3 The better question is "why does the US ALSO need military aid to Israel?
* US jobs in defense, automotive, Hi-tech industries who make systems used by Israel.
* Unmatched Intel cooperation with Israel. Ask CIA directors Petraeus or Pompeo who gets more bang for the buck?

4/
* Intel coop goes back to Soviet days, but also more modern: Assad's nuclear reactor, Iran's nuclear program, killing Mughniya & Soleimani.
(Cook, What does any of this have to do with Palestinians?)
* Israeli weapons systems, now co-produced in US like Iron Dome & Arrow.

5/ End military "assistance," Cook?
* Tunnel detection system developed w US help. Hizbullah tunnels discovered looked similar to mile-long one near San Diego.
* Will European nations, whose citizens in masses have been saved by Israeli intel, agree to end special relationship?

/6.
Mr. Cook, your proposal to deny US military "assistance" to Israel because of the Palestinian issue is so old school & irrelevant.
With so many existential cancers metastasizing around the Middle East, why focus on a carbuncle on the buttocks, as painful as it may be?
End

PS:
US Aid to Israel Is a High-Yield Investment besacenter.org/perspectives-p…