Egypt and Israel are the largest recipients of aid from the United States. Both helped in the Gulf War. Egypt owed the U.S. $9 billion (that’s a B, by the way). The &uot;thank you&uot; for the Gulf was help to forgive the debt. Some present!

Israel receives $2.8 billion (a B again) every year. That’s quite an allowance and not even a family member. How do they earn this vast amount?

First, let us state that over 40 states are in the Middle East. We are liked by a few, Feared by many. A goodly number are jealous of us. Popular, we are not! Just pray all 40 plus don’t get together and decide to eliminate us. Who would we turn to? Israel and Egypt, of course. Europe likes us – especially England. France wouldn’t hurry to help. Doubt she’d care.

Israel, unlike nations around her is committed to freedom and justice and rule by law. She stabilizes the area and that includes the oil field of the Persian Gulf. She stands against the aggression of Iran and any nation that threatens the U.S. Israel has one of the best armies in the world and navy and air force are envied.

Twenty percent of its budget goes for defense. United States budget is seven percent while Japan’s is one percent. Israel is the only country in the Mideast that makes itself available to the U.S.

Besides the aid to Israel, the United States contributes $130 billion to the defense of Europe, Japan, Korea, and the Far East. We have over 300,000 troops stationed with NATO. Not one single soldier needs to be stationed and put at risk in Israel. It is estimated the U.S. would have to spend $350 billion (another B) in the Far East to have a force equal to Israel’s.

Looks like we have an adoption on hand. Can we love this child as our new addition or will it stab us in the end? Many Muslim countries hope that will happen. Don’t let us down, new family addition. We’re counting on you as you’ve counted on us.

Florence Arena is a regular News-Herald columnist.