Sorry this is convoluted but I am on the phone...
"Agreed. If it were just the Harpy's I would say the US was over-reacting, but since its more than that, Israel definitly needs to change its attitude. They are being totally ungrateful. I have hopes that this will knock some sense into them, but who knows? "The problem is only partly money (I mean the reason for selling weapons to China). Its mainly about building bridges and being afraid of burning them. Israel has been a pariah in the region since 48, and from Europe since the 60s. Because of this, the Israeli government does not want to risk sabatoging contacts with other countries. Obviously the US is more important than China and Israel should be showing some gratitude, I'm just explaining some of the rational behind Israeli actions."
I agree with the spirt of your post
I also think some of the problem is actual arrogance.
And then one has shortsighteness as the money Israel makes off these sales in no way would ever add up the aid. I mean look at the AWACs market or the anti radar drone market. Israel almost lost all their aid for about 1 billion dollars.
And then of course one has the money. The French rep for selling to everyone even both sides of a conflict (not well deserved actually check prices on that
) hits Israel rather well. Let us not forget Ethiopia and Eritrea who both got mad because they were getting equipment from Israel at the same time during a war.
And they have the "dirty" arms market dream team with Singapore and South Africa. Those 3 nations have a habit of making rather similar stuff (Tavor/SAR-21, Derby/R-Darter, Kfir/Cheetah C). The sales to China will hurt Americans but Israel has other sales to unfriendly people as well such as Burma (radars, missiles, small arms, artillery etc...), and less then friendly African nations (Uganda, Rwanda, Congo).
At least one group of sales did come back to bite them in the ass, TOW-1s to Iran which ended up with Hezbollah which ended up hitting IDF bunkers and AFVs in Lebanon. Dollar signs clouded vision on that sale...
Now if you want me to I could balance things and bash the EU or US arms sales (don't even get me started on China's) as well just to show it is nothing personal. HK selling to any nasty dictorship, BAE selling Hawks to any nasty dictorship, LM selling to any nasty dictorship, FN selling to any nasty dictorship. I could make a bigger thread about them
"Because if you think about it, besides being wrong (and if there is any place Israel should be empathetic towards, it's Taiwan) what Israel is/was doing is just stupid."
In a very sickening way Israel used to be empathetic towards South Africa and Rhodesia. Well prepare to be shocked but they (ROC/Israel) have worked together in the past (check out the HF-1 or Hai Oui) just Israel went to richer and less pro American pastures (China). It's funny because China sells weapons to the Arabs and Iranians despite these sales from Israel. So it is not even getting influence like American sales are supposed to do its about getting cash.