Congressman Paul has stated that the US should treat Israel just as it should treat other nations - nonintervention. He has stated though that the US is so involved with Israel that most people view Israel's actions as being sanctioned by the US and that his is largely true.
Congressman Paul has been critical of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, their raid on a flotilla that ran the Palestinian blockade, and their reliance on the US for defense and aid. When asked what his response would be to a threat towards Israel, Congressman Paul replied that Israel had 300 nukes and wasn't truly threatened by anyone.
On the subject of foreign aid, Congressman Paul has stated that all aid to all countries should be ended. He supports this same policy for Israel.
Congressman Paul has also asserted that continued and escalated US presence in the Middle East places Israel in danger as it angers the people of the region and Israel is their best target. He supports removing troops from the region in keeping with his overall foreign policy view of non-intervention.
Support for Israel
In 2007, Congressman Paul was asked at a rally if he would intervene if Israel was attacked. He notes that he would not treat Israel any differently that any other country. He states that Israel has 300 nukes and is in no real danger.
US will be blamed for Israel
In January of 2009 Congressman Paul spoke with RT News about Israeli incursions into Gaza. He notes that the US gives Israel a lot of money and arms them.
Also in January of 2009, Congressman Paul addressed the Campaign for Liberty and reiterated the same sentiments. He noted that our involvement there would do nothing to solve the situation and we will be blamed for the Israeli movement into Gaza.
Response to Israeli Blockade Action
In June of 2010, Congressman Paul appeared on the Don Imus show and discussed the Israeli boarding of ships that are running a blockade on Palestine. He states that he would normally tell a country that they are free to handle their own affairs, but in this case the US is so involved with Israel that any action they take is seen as US action. He states that we should tell Israel that they are on their own.
We Put Israel in Danger
In February of 2011, Congressman Paul was interviewed by NewsRealBlog and asked about Israel and US presence there.
NRB: David Horowitz and others have been critical of the effect that your foreign policy would have upon Israel… How would you describe a libertarian vision for alliance that could support democracies where people want to determine their own course while under threat by external forces?
Ron Paul: We’ve been involved a long time, since World War II, especially since we’ve inherited or developed our empire. We strongly supported all the dictators that surround Israel, and sometimes we buy peace and pay for it. But it’s unstable. And that instability has always been a threat to Israel. Now, when it’s coming apart, and our financial system’s coming apart, Israel is in worse shape than ever because of our so-called protection.
I believe in non-intervention. I believe we should treat all other countries alike, and that we should be friends. Israel is very, very powerful. If we weren’t in there, they could do what they want to protect themselves, and they wouldn’t have to ask us permission, and we would never have to be dragged in if something happens over there. I think they’d be much better off, and that would be a constitutional position.
NRB: Is there a point where the existence of Israel being under threat would compel even a libertarian to take action to protect her?
Paul: First off, they’re under threat because we’re there. We’re a greater threat to them, and our polices, because they have assumed that we’ll [intervene] if they don’t do the right things for themselves.
I don’t know of anybody who can militarily threaten them. They have 300 nuclear weapons. Nobody’s gonna touch them. This notion that we have to support them over the Palestinians – we shouldn’t favor one over the other. It’s a very different problem over there. If you’re a Palestinian-American, you might not like [America's position on Israel]. I’m not saying you should support the Palestinian side or the Israeli side. I’m saying let them work it out.
South Carolina Debate
In May of 2011, Congressman Paul participated in the Republican debate in South Carolina. He is asked about Israel's right to defend itself and his desire to end foreign aid to all countries, including Israel.
The Western Debate
In October of 2011, Congressman Paul participated in the Western Debate in Las Vegas. He states that foreign aid should be cut to everyone.
Congressman Paul?
PAUL: On foreign aid, that should be the easiest thing to cut. It's not authorized in the Constitution that we can take money from you and give it to particular countries around the world. To me, foreign aid is taking money from poor people in this country and giving it to rich people in poor countries. And it becomes weapons of war. Essentially, no well -- no matter how well-motivated it is...
COOPER: Congressman Paul, would you cut aid to Israel?
PAUL: I would cut all foreign aid. I would treat everybody equally and fairly. And I don't think aid to Israel actually helps them. I think it teaches them to be dependent. We're on a bankruptcy course.
And -- and look at what's the result of all that foreign aid we gave to Egypt? I mean, their -- their dictator that we pumped up, we spent all these billions of dollars, and now there's a more hostile regime in Egypt. And that's what's happening all around Israel. That foreign aid makes Israel dependent on us. It softens them for their own economy. And they should have their sovereignty back. They should be able to deal with their neighbors...
CNN National Security Debate
On November 22, 2011 Congressman Paul participated in the CNN debate on national security. He stated that he would not support Israel if they attacked Iran.
BLITZER: Congressman Paul, would you support Israel and help Israel in such an attack?
PAUL: No, I wouldn't do that.
(LAUGHTER)
But there would be good reasons because I don't expect it to happen. Because, you know, the Mossad leader that just retired said it would be the stupidest thing to do in the world. And it's a big argument over in Israel. They're not about to do this.
They've just polled 40 major experts on foreign policy here by the National Journal. Not one of them said there should be a unilateral attack on -- on the sites in -- in Iran.
So that's not going to happen. And if it did -- you're supposing that if it did, why does Israel need our help? We need to get out of their way. I mean, we interfere with them. We interfere with them...
(LAUGHTER)
... when they deal with their borders. When they want to have peace treaties, we tell them what they can do because we buy their allegiance and they sacrifice their sovereignty to us. And then they decide they want to bomb something, that's their business, but they should, you know, suffer the consequences. When they bombed the Iraqi missile site, nuclear site, back in the '80s, I was one of the few in Congress that said it's none of our business and Israel should take care of themselves. Israel has 200, 300 nuclear missiles. And they can take care of themselves. Why should we commit -- we don't even have a treaty with Israel. Why do we have this automatic commitment that we're going to send our kids and send our money endlessly to Israel? So I think they're quite capable of taking care of themselves.
I think we do detriment -- just think of all the money we gave to Egypt over 30 or 40 years. Now, look, we were buying friendship. Now there's a civil war, they're less friendly to Israel.
The whole thing is going to backfire once we go bankrupt and we remove our troops, so I think we should be very cautious in our willingness to go to war and send troops without a proper declaration by the U.S. Congress.
Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation
This representative has not been identified as sponsoring or cosponsoring significant legislation related to this title.
