Dozens of countries receive billions of dollars in American foreign assistance every year. But that is only a fraction of what the United States spends supporting, protecting, and defending other nations. We have deployed hundreds of thousands of American troops around the world, spent trillions of dollars over decades, and tragically lost thousands of American lives defending allies and protecting shared strategic interests. We defend South Korea and Japan. We maintain security commitments to the Philippines and support Taiwan’s defense. We stand on the front lines of Central and Western Europe. We have American military forces stationed throughout the Middle East and have spent enormous sums protecting our Gulf allies. Kuwait directly requested American military intervention. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have urged Washington to confront Iran militarily. We have troops in Africa fighting extremism and protect the free flow of shipping on the Eastern part of the continent. And the list goes on and on. So why is Israel constantly singled out by antiSemites? There is something deeply troubling about repeatedly portraying the Jewish state as taking American money while supposedly making Americans fight and die on its behalf. This narrative risks reinforcing centuries-old antisemitic accusations about Jewish money, influence, and control. And those accusations have real-world consequences for Jewish communities. And let’s not forget what America receives in return. Israel provides critical intelligence, advanced military technology, counterterrorism cooperation, regional deterrence, and strategic capabilities that directly benefit American national security. American foreign assistance is not simply charity. It is an instrument of American foreign policy designed to advance American interests, strengthen alliances, and protect American lives. That is true of our relationships around the world, and it is true of Israel. Which brings me to @cenkuygur and this carefully staged video with his Rebellion PAC Does Cenk really believe Americans are too stupid to see through this BS? Americans understand that we spend billions supporting and defending allies around the world, not just Israel. They understand that American presidents make American foreign policy decisions. And they can recognize when legitimate criticism of foreign aid crosses into dangerous antisemitic tropes about Jewish money, influence, and control. The irony is that Cenk may think this video will win votes for the candidate he supports. I suspect it will cost them a lot more votes than it gains. And using the Jewish state as a political punching bag while invoking narratives that have historically fueled antisemitism is something that deserves to be called out. We can debate foreign assistance, military spending, and the merits of any American alliance. But singling out Israel while ignoring the billions we give, the trillions we spend, and the military commitments we maintain to defend other nations is neither a complete nor a fair accounting of American foreign policy. Americans are a lot smarter than he gives them credit for.