Why should the United States keep subsidizing people who can't take time away from religious studies to make sure their country is defended and to make an equal contribution to society?
-- It doesn't take a million people to examine the depths of the Torah. I'm sure some are sincere but there's an awful lot of scamming going on as well.
-- It's perfectly possible to do military or other work that contributes to society and to the economy and to study at night and on the Sabbath.
-- Israel could not afford to keep supporting these people were it not for American taxpayers. It is especially offensive that they are subsidized to have five or seven children when people working normal jobs cannot afford to.
@M1norityDickRepublican2mos2MO
I agree the freeloading Haredim need to be checked, but it’s ridiculous to say that they’re funded by US taxpayers. Israel alone has a GDP of half a trillion dollars. The comparatively measly 4-5 billion we give them, of which 90% is specifically earmarked to only buy American weapons thus subsidizing our own domestic production, makes no real difference. It’s a mutually beneficial sweetheart deal, but people who at this point still think Israel would be crippled or have to make huge strategic changes if those funds were withdrawn need to get a reality check.