Report warns demographic changes in the U.S. 'could leave Israel without an ally'
Thursday, October 1, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
TEL AVIV Ñ Israel's military has been bracing for the prospect of a significant reduction in U.S. assistance.
In an analysis in the Israel military's monthly Maarachot, a senior officer warned that the United States could withhold aid to the Jewish state during a regional war, including that which would involve Iran. The officer, Lt. Col. Robi Sandman, pointed to U.S. demographic changes, particularly a rapidly shrinking Jewish community and the rise of minority groups.
"This trend will continue to get worse, due to assimilation and the fast rise of other minorities such as the Hispanics, which amount to 30 million today in the United States," Sandman wrote.
The article, which has reflected military assessments in 2009, was awarded a prize for excellence by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. Sandman said the next few years "could leave Israel without an ally."
In 2009, Israel received about $2.4 billion in U.S. military aid. But the Obama administration has refused to announce a single weapons deal or export delivery to Israel.
The military has been discussing scenarios of a Middle East war in which Washington would refuse to directly help Israel. The scenarios have been examined amid the administration of President Barack Obama, who has refused to approve most of Israel's weapons requests in 2009.
The report urged the Israeli military to focus on intensified training and other programs with the United States. Sandman said the two countries should hold exercises that would facilitate U.S. military intervention in a Middle East war, and that Israel should expand U.S. military stockpiles in the Jewish state.
"This type of support will be important one day in an emergency, but could also serve as a deterrent for enemies when planning an attack," Sandman said.
The report came in wake of a series of consultations between the military's General Staff and the Defense Ministry over the prospect of a U.S. arms embargo on Israel. During the meetings, the military and Defense Ministry explored alternative suppliers should the Obama administration continue to reject Israeli weapons requests.
Sandman said Israel must restructure its military to prepare for a regional war, including an invasion by the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah and Syria. Based on interviews with 24 senior defense officials, Sandman asserted that Hizbullah performed better than the Israeli military during the war in Lebanon in 2006. Hizbullah's strengths were said to have been in intelligence and organization.
"We need to recognize that the army with its current structure cannot provide a response to the unbelievably well-equipped force that is rising to destroy the state of Israel," Sandman said.