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Notes -
Fundamentally I think issues l should be viewed in the following light:
I and many other Americans who don’t have any affiliation with Israel are asking if this is in our national interest. Many more democrats than republicans do not think it is and Democratic support is required to make this pass. Rather than debating this issue on its merits the adl and other Israel supporters are doing their best to make it a conversation about anti semitism. In my opinion suggesting that universities are antisemitic places is even more preposterous than suggesting that they are racist places and anyone who cares a wit about freedom of speech should should be concerned that the wealthy donors have this much influence over public institutions (by which I mean u penn.). I can’t believe that I am actually in support of something Harvard is doing (this is probably the first time ever), but it sort of refreshing that their endowment is so big that they can ignore these kinds of donor demands.
By any definition that people like me get accused of being white supremacists, fascists, pick your label, etc - these schools are far past the line I’m judged by on their antisemitism.
I think being pro-Palestine after what they did is very very tough line to draw before your antisemitic. You Can asks for mercy from Israel and things like that but what happened was really bad.
I’ve seen a lot of reports that most young people saying “river to the sea” don’t actually know what that term means and change their view when they realize it means Jewish genocide. But Harvard students aren’t some stupid kid at a directional state school. They know geography and what that means.
And I disagree with you that Israel isn’t strategically important to the US. 30-50% of scientific output comes from the Jewish population (nobels so boundary pushers not the grinders pushing others ideas to implementation). The US having a technological edge on China etc completely depends on the Jews. Nukes were invented by Jews. AI led by Altman (a Jew) is the next big military tech. The Jews matter as allies.
For every Bill Gates and Elon Musks there is a Mark Zuckerberg and Sergei Brin/Larry Page.
I think you’re completely missing my point which is that it’s questionable that giving Israel a lot of money to destabilize the Middle East is a good idea (not the least of which is because you are mostly propping up Netanyahu). The us needs to be preparing to compete with China, not wasting our energies on regional fights in the Middle East and
As for Israel’s alleged strategic importance, every example you have was of Jews working in america. Israel itself is not particularly productive or important.
I’d also encourage you to look at the domestic Israeli political situation, before advocating American political involvement.
“Destabilize the Middle East” is doing a lot here and unfounded. As far as I can tell no one in the ME likes Palestine and a lot of them do like Israel.
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