Causing Jealousy?

[Caleb]

Do you feel that the amount of foreign aid in which the United States lends to Israel is bringing about jealousy with its surrounding nations?

OVERVIEW:

"The relations between Israel and the United States have evolved from an initial United States policy of sympathy and support for the creation of a Jewish state in 1948 (It was the first country to recognize the establishment of the State) to an unusual partnership that links Israel with the United States trying to balance competing interests in the Middle East region. The United States has been considered Israel's most powerful and supportive ally for almost 40 years and hosts the annual Salute to Israel Parade in New York City.

The United States is Israel's largest trading partner, accounting for 22.4% of Israel's $43.19 billion in imports, and 42.1% of Israel's $40.14 billion in exports annually (2005). The U.S. also provides Israel with $2.4 billion in miltary assistance annually, which is equivalent to 24.5% of Israel's military expenditures. (2005).

Israel is the ninth-greatest recipient of American foreign aid."

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_re ... ted_States

[jackwellman]

I do believe that this causes jealousy between other nations in the sense the Israel recieves more money that most Middle Eastern nations, but they still remain 8th overall but this is in trade and not in foriegn aid, of which these two are decidely not the same thing. Trade is a completely different topic than foriegn aid and I believe foriegn trade causes far less friction or jealousy between Israels neighbors than does foriegn aid (although it should be noted that Egypt is not that far behind Isreal). I researched the top 16 and found the following:

Here are the top 16 recipients of U.S. foreign aid for 2005:

1. Israel 2.58 Billion
2. Egypt 1.84 Billion
3. Afganistan 0.98 Billion
4. Pakistan 0.70 Billion
5. Colombia 0.57 Billion
6. Sudan 0.50 Billion
7. Jordan 0.48 Billion
8. Uganda 0.25 Billion
9. Kenya 0.24 Billion
10. Ethiopia 0.19 Billion
11. South Africa 0.19 Billion
12. Peru 0.19 Billion
13. Indonesia 0.18 Billion
14. Bolivia 0.18 Billion
15. Nigeria 0.18 Billion
16. Zambia 0.18 Billion

source:
CRS Report for Congress: Foreign Aid: An Introductory Overview of U.S.
Programs and Policy Updated January 19, 2005, page 14
http://shelby.senate.gov/legislation/ForeignAid.pdf

During the height of the Iraq war, these were the top 16 recipients of U.S. foreign aid for 2004:

1. Iraq 18.44 Billion
2. Israel 2.62 Billion
3. Egypt 1.87 Billion
4. Afghanistan 1.77 Billion
5. Colombia 0.57 Billion
6. Jordan 0.56 Billion
7. Pakistan 0.39 Billion
8. Liberia 0.21 Billion
9. Peru 0.17 Billion
10. Ethiopia 0.16 Billion
11. Bolivia 0.15 Billion
12. Turkey 0.15 Billion
13. Uganda 0.14 Billion
14. Sudan 0.14 Billion
15. Indonesia 0.13 Billion
16. Kenya 0.13 Billion

source:
CRS Report for Congres:: Foreign Aid: An Introductory Overview of U.S.
Programs and Policy, April 15, 2004, page 13
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/trade/files/98-916.pdf

Not counting the Iraq war effort, it appears that Israel is the top beneficiary of U.S. foriegn aid which could certainly account for other nations jealousies. However Egypt is overlooked as they are a relatively close 2nd. Israels aid (avg. 2.4 billion) is about 1/4 of their national, total expenditures over all.

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