Ron Paul Wishes Israel Didn't Exist

The title basically says it all.

According to a former senior aide who worked with Ron Paul for 12 years, the 'libertarian' Republican presidential candidate is not an antisemite, but fully wishes that Israel didn't exist.

Mirroring the more 'moderate' anti-Zionist rhetoric that we see on the internet, Paul apparently believes that Israel's creation was a mistake and that it is a burden to America

Paul's view, he said, "is that Israel is more trouble than it is worth, specifically to the America taxpayer. He sides with the Palestinians, and supports their calls for the abolishment of the Jewish state, and the return of Israel, all of it, to the Arabs."

If this the whole thing is true, it would place Paul in that highly theoretical category that I am always told exists but have never seen much direct evidence of, that of an anti-Zionist that is not an antisemite. Or it is entirely possible that Paul is also an antisemite, given his history of bigoted statements against many groups.

In either case, if true, this shows yet again that Ron Paul is unfit to be anywhere near the levers of power. He would abandon one of America's major allies and trading partners, and a country that shares its values and aspirations, and provides much needed self-determination to the Jewish people.

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Also, I have to note that yet again a (big L) Libertarian refuses to live up to what he or she preaches. Libertarians and Ayn Rand heads are supposed to be all about survival of the fittest and letting the marketplace and/or Darwinian logic decide who wins and loses, without compassion or help for the losers. Well, who has won and proved their value in a more dramatic Darwinian fashion than Israel? A tiny country with a tiny population surrounded and perpetually attacked by hostile enemies, they have nevertheless built themselves up into an economic and military powerhouse. If (big L) Libertarians like Ron Paul were actually consistent in their ideology, they would love Israel and want it to continue to succeed.

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And lastly, there has been much talk, not entirely unjustified, about how anti-Zionism and antisemitism has crept into some quarters of the progressive movement. Well, now we have an actual Republican Presidential candidate, one who may very well win the Iowa caucus, who has now gone farther into anti-Zionism than any presidential contender in recent memory.

Just like support for Israel is bi-partisan, it seems like Israel derangement is too. Which, for supporters of Israel is a good thing - it means that candidates who want to resonate with a majority of Americans will still have to prove their pro-Israel cred. But it does deflate the argument that the Democratic tent is more hospitable to anti-Zionism / antisemitism than the Republican one.