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GOP candidate Ron Paul. (AP)
Last update - 18:11 07/01/2008
Ron Paul to Haaretz: Israel can get by without American aid
By Shmuel Rosner
Tags: Ron Paul, U.S., aid, Israel
After an impressive showing in Iowa, the isolationist representative should do well in the 'live free or die' state.

The slight wound to Ron Paul's pride was visible as he recalled the decision by Fox News not to invite him to yesterday's Republican debate, but he hopes to gain even from his absence. "When there's an exclusion, it energizes the supporters," Paul, a U.S. congressman from Texas, said. He'll use the time freed up in his schedule for more appearances, more speeches. He was in Nashua, New Hampshire, yesterday, speaking to the Liberty Forum. No venue could be more fitting for this extraordinary Republican candidate. He stood out from the field in Saturday night's ABC news debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, particularly where U.S. foreign policy is concerned.

The Republican candidates are careful not to be too highly identified with the administration that will be leaving office in a year. Still, when it comes to terror and the war in Iraq, they give President George W. Bush considerable credit.

"The president got the big decision of his presidency right," Rudy Giuliani said. He meant the decision to "go on the offense" against terror. John McCain agreed, Mitt Romney agreed, Mike Huckabee agreed - albeit with slightly less enthusiasm - and Fred Thompson noted that this was a "global war." Afterward, the five began arguing with Paul, a Republican candidate who blamed American foreign policy for inviting and encouraging terror.
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Paul rejects the "isolationist" label, but it's difficult to describe his positions in another manner. In Iowa he took 10 percent of the votes, way ahead of Giuliani's 3 percent and slightly behind McCain's 13 percent. No one believes he can win, but nevertheless in the final quarter of 2007, he raised the amazing sum of nearly $20 million, allowing him to remain in the race. The vast majority of the money came from hundreds of thousands of people who each gave less than $100. Most of them are young - allowing Paul to compare his draw to that of Democratic candidate Barack Obama - and very devoted. In New Hampshire, a state whose citizens have a strong tendency to believe that that government is best which governs least, and are among the most anti-tax people in the country, Paul hopes to do well - at least as well as he did in Iowa.

The most interesting political question about Paul concerns whether he will run as an independent after he loses the Republican nod. Paul refuses to promise that he won't, and one can already hear how would frame an independent run: "The investment was made by the supporters," he notes. They gave the money, they'll decide what to do with it. In other words, if they demand it, he will have no choice but to go forward.

Paul made time for a brief conversation with Haaretz a few days ago, after an appearance at Des Moines University, in Iowa. He spoke to students before holding a short press conference, and then stopped to talk about Israel a little. Much has already been written about Paul and Israel. Some have accused him of being anti-Israel and have found anti-Semitic sentiments among some of his supporters. A few of Paul's statements have teetered on the thin line between sharp criticism and dangerous conspiracy theories. For example: "The assumption is that AIPAC is in control of things, and they control the votes, and they get everybody to vote against anything that would diminish the [Iraq] war."

Representatives of Israel in the U.S., who make a point of maintaining contact with all of the candidates' campaign headquarters, have not bothered much with Paul. What could they say to a candidate whose supporters believe that Israel plays a central role in trying to provoke a U.S.-Iran war? How much schmoozing could they do with those who want the U.S. to get out of the Middle East?

Still, Paul is polite to the Israeli nudnik attempting to trip him up: "I'm not anti-Israel in any way," he says. Paul has no problem with the idea of America's maintaining good trade relations with Israel, or with with seeing Israeli tourists in the U.S. and vice versa. The suspicions about him, he assumes, come from the fact that he opposes economic and military aid to Israel. But, he stresses, it's not just Israel, it's any country. In fact, Paul explains, Israel only stands to gain from his position. "It's a good deal," he says, since when aid to Israel stops so would the aid to all the Arab states currently enjoying American patronage. It is true that Israel receives more than any of the Arab states, but, Paul notes, it receives less than they do put together. "The enemies would also be denied the money," he says.

"I believe in the sovereignty of Israel," Paul says. If Israel stops receiving U.S. aid, then it could do whatever it wants. If it wants peace, then it will make peace. In any event, Paul is certain that "It will do quite well." Israel doesn't really "need us."

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      1.   "Non-Interventionist" 08:32  |  Tim Graham 07/01/08
      2.   Israel loving 09:21  |  Joshie 07/01/08
      3.   The Term is "Non-interventionist" 09:23  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/01/08
      4.   "Dignity" 09:24  |  Maria Perez 07/01/08
      5.   Israel is an artificial place, like Disneyland 09:26  |  Natallie Durson 07/01/08
      6.   Israel Does Not need US blood Money! 09:27  |  Mark Hamil 07/01/08
      7.   Ron Paul`s Jeffersonian Foreign Policy 09:36  |  Richard Blauvelt 07/01/08
      8.   I`m Not Afraid Of Ron Paul 09:46  |  Yosemite 07/01/08
      9.   Aid to Israel? 10:16  |  Wiktor 07/01/08
      10.   some jews are for ron paul 10:19  |  andrey 07/01/08
      11.   BORRRRRRRRRRRRRING. 10:26  |  Matthew DIckinson 07/01/08
      12.   Use AID is something like 3% of the Israeli Budget? 10:27  |  Efox 07/01/08
      13.   Ron Paul is mistaken,without American military & economic aid, 10:31  |  lakshmi 07/01/08
      14.   I have no problem with no aid across the board. 10:35  |  David G 07/01/08
      15.   ron who? rosner; you`ve really stooped! 10:51  |  eric 07/01/08
      16.   Isolationist vs. Nonintervention 11:07  |  Joe Allen 07/01/08
      17.   Ron Paul is correct you up to one Trillion total 11:09  |  Moses 07/01/08
      18.   correct but not in the long run 11:36  |  mehmet 07/01/08
      19.   RON PAUL AND ISRAEL 12:03  |  DAVID HARRIS 07/01/08
      20.   yosemite #9 12:09  |  george 07/01/08
      21.   I`m a Jew who supports Ron Paul 12:47  |  RAB 07/01/08
      22.   #7 has added great depth to the debate 13:02  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/01/08
      23.   Good article 13:02  |  Wendy 07/01/08
      24.   The JTF are against Ron Paul 13:07  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/01/08
      25.   Can the USA do without Israeli Intelligence? 13:23  |  Fortuna Benmayor 07/01/08
      26.   too soon to question wait until he is nominated 13:33  |  victor hardman 07/01/08
      27.   Ron Paul Is Good For The Jews 13:49  |  Uri DeYoung 07/01/08
      28.   Israel May Do Better 13:50  |  Ron 07/01/08
      29.   Stupidity 14:09  |  William 07/01/08
      30.   Far reach David Harris 14:10  |  Fed Up 07/01/08
      31.   No worries, Ron Paul wont win beans 14:15  |  Petra 07/01/08
      32.   cutting aid to israel? nooo!?? 14:16  |  donnie 07/01/08
      33.   Ron Paul position on Israel 14:33  |  gaelic heather 07/01/08
      34.   interventionist is newspeak for isolationist 14:57  |  Miriam 07/01/08
      35.   #30 Petra...you know nothing about the USA 15:04  |  Fed Up 07/01/08
      36.   NO U.S. Aid, Etc. For WARMONGERS Like Israel! 15:22  |  Proud Pal Defender 07/01/08
      37.   End of israel without usa dollar 15:42  |  adeel 07/01/08
      38.   Ideas that do not work in the real world 15:42  |  Ethel 07/01/08
      39.   Doe`st the US have a serious deficit 15:46  |  Erik 07/01/08
      40.   A Lutheran to David Harris 15:52  |  Erik 07/01/08
      41.   #32 gaelic heather and cheering prospects but not for 15:52  |  victor hardman 07/01/08
      42.   Clinton`s policies and intervention 15:56  |  Ethel 07/01/08
      43.   Kooks in politics 16:08  |  Ethel 07/01/08
      44.   No Foreign Aide 16:11  |  Hazel 07/01/08
      45.   New Year nightmares 16:19  |  Ethel 07/01/08
      46.   Good deal for Israel 16:30  |  Tosefta 07/01/08
      47.   Hope Israel friendly candidate wins 16:38  |  Ethel 07/01/08
      48.   Ron Paul is Best for Israel 16:38  |  Martin 07/01/08
      49.   It would make sense if the US doesn`t arm the Arabs 16:43  |  Gee 07/01/08
      50.   Sales of military hardware 17:29  |  Ethel 07/01/08
      51.   israel`s aid to us 17:37  |  george 07/01/08
      52.   Israel wants the US in the Middle East or not? 17:42  |  Bill Moore 07/01/08
      53.   ron paul 17:51  |  Shmuelshachor 07/01/08
      54.   to Proud Pal Bullshitter , if Israel wanted to "monger war"... 17:57  |  JJ 07/01/08
      55.   For Martin, # 49 18:16  |  Fortuna Benmayor 07/01/08
      56.   Ignorant JJ from Orlando 18:32  |  Redshia 07/01/08
      57.   Arab thievery 18:57  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/01/08
      58.   Which Jefferson, and which Paul -- 18:57  |  DJStahl 07/01/08
      59.   L.A. is artificial sweetheart 19:06  |  saul 07/01/08
      60.   Paul makes incorrect statements 19:15  |  MichaelF 07/01/08
      61.   #5 - Natallie Durson 19:16  |  MichaelF 07/01/08
      62.   Re #52 Israel`s aid to the US 19:17  |  DJStahl 07/01/08
      63.   Paul is an isolationist 19:18  |  MichaelF 07/01/08
      64.   #52 - george 19:24  |  MichaelF 07/01/08
      65.   Ron Paul not a Neo-Con Israel-Firster 19:25  |  Dovy 07/01/08
      66.   #45 - Hazel 19:26  |  MichaelF 07/01/08
      67.   #5 - Is that so Natallie 19:26  |  JES 07/01/08
      68.   #55 JJ of Orlando 6559 miles from Jerusalem 19:31  |  Paul Wood 07/01/08
      69.   Success or corruption? 19:32  |  Ethel 07/01/08