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Comment by givemeethekeys | Hacker News Reader

I can see both sides: Yes, Google offices are private property. Yes, Google is an American company - if Google's employees don't agree with an American company serving America and its allies - Israel has been an ally for a long time - then, they should leave for more agreeable pastures. They can even remove Google from their resume once they've found a better resume brand.

However, If I were an employee at Google, and my company had begun serving DoD / IDF against my wishes - then, I would have a better chance of changing this from inside the company than from outside. So, speaking out internally against taking on undesirable customers seems like a more effective tactic than quitting.

But, by protesting in the way they did, they've likely ensured that they will no longer be inside the company.

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You know, we hear this thing about Israel being a "long-standing ally" all the time, but what exactly does US get out of this alliance except for a massive yearly bill of military aid, and recurring feuds with basically everyone else in that region?

The national interest is really just the collective interests of the citizens of a country, and America has a lot of Jewish citizens.

As a more practical matter, there is significant amount of technology transfer between Israel and the US, and Israel also is also a friendly and militarily capable country in a region where America doesn’t have many allies.

Also, does America provide much aid to Israel? I don’t think they do.

Israel is the single largest recipient of foreign aid from US. Has been that way for many, many years.

The national interest should be the collective interests of citizens, you're right. I don't think that what's actually sold to us as "national interest" is that in any meaningful sense, though.

But also, those Jewish citizens of US are, well, citizens of US. It's not that it's wrong for them to also have some interests wrt Israel, but why should it be of any concern to the rest of this polity?

A strong foothold in a region that has historically been unstable. Most importantly, preventing the aggression of Iran into other countries.

This "strong foothold" is the cause of a lot of problems in the region. Unless that's the point?

Are you suggesting whistleblowing? Or inserting exploits into the project?

There are more reasonable, honorable, and effective ways to persuade your company of an idea than ambushing your boss with an office occupation, leaking to the press, or criminal sabotage (possibly treasonous given US and other allies use of the product).

No, that is the kind of thing that gets you fired and arrested and possibly worse.

Since any kind of protest can get you fired, what are your criteria for suggesting unnamed something else as more effective?

So the same repercussions as protesting? Gotcha

Incredibly enough, you can also talk to people in person. Does wonders.

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