Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, courted Jewish voters in a Newsmax interview that saw him outline his understanding of “the original idea of Zionism” and claim that the United States, unlike himself, does not want Israel to be “self-reliant.”
Paul said that some critics of his Israeli policy “not only misunderstand the American Constitution and the role we should have in the world, they also misunderstand Zionism.” He explained that “part of the original idea of Zionism, as I understand it, was that there should be Jewish independence and Jewish self-reliance.”
The Republican hopeful suggested that “America doesn’t want anyone to be self-reliant,” saying “we want to rule the world and be the saviors of the world and we are going broke in the process.”
“Foreign aid does not help Israel,” Paul said in defense of his plan to cut all foreign aid, including to Israel. ““The borrower is servant to the lender” and America should never be the master of Israel and its fate. We should be her friend.”
Paul also noted that “We give $3 billion a year to Israel in loans; and we give $12 billion or more in assistance to Israel’s self-declared enemies.”
