US- Israel Relations
On May 14, 1948, when the establishment of Israel on the land of Palestine was announced, the Arab Countries refused to recognise the new Jewish State and declared war. But on the other hand, the United States had recognised this newly established Jewish State that very night. Since then, the United States has given in total economic and military assistance more than 310 billion US dollars in aids to Israel, a large part of which is in the form defence aids. This is the largest aid given by the United States to a single country. The US still publicly supports Israel’s military attacks on Palestine. In December 2017, the Trump administration, in support of Israel, decided to recognise Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel and move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This action sparked a new conflict in the Middle East and a resolution against it was introduced at the United Nations, but was vetoed by the United States. Since 1972, United States has vetoed at least 53 UN security resolutions critical of Israel.
In todays’ era relations between countries are bilateral and economic and defence relations or geopolitics depend on the mutual benefit and loss of both countries. So the questions arises, why does US support Israel so much and despite being a superpower, why is the relationship with Israel so important for the US? Are these reactions bilateral, means if US also have some advantages? And is so, what are the common goals of these two countries?
Background of US- Israel Relations
Although, the Unites States was the first country to recognise Israel, but the policy of the United States towards Israel was not so clear at that time. It would not be wrong to say that America was not always so close or unconditionally supportive of Israel. For Example, in the first Arab- Israel war, shortly after the establishment of Israel. The Unites States did not directly participates in the ceasefire negotiations, but it hoped that instability in the Middle East would not upset the balance of power between the Soviet Union and and the Unites States. Similarly, when the Israel attacked Egypt in 1956 along with France and Great Britain, America did not support Israel. The reason for this joint attack on Egypt was the nationalisation of the Suez Canal by Egyptian leader Gamal Abdul Nasser in July 1956. As the Soviet Union was about to become a side in the war against Israel, the United States threatened the three aggressor countries with economic sanctions if they did not withdraw their troops. As a result, the first British and French forces withdrew and Israel eventually bowed to American pressure and relinquished control of Suez Canal to Egypt. In addition, The United States has for years opposed Israel’s secret nuclear program. So the Israelis turned to France to start their nuclear program and in 1957 secretly set up a nuclear facility with French help. When American intelligence finally discovered Israel’s nuclear facility in 1960s, Israeli leaders insisted that it was for peaceful purposes and they were not interested in acquiring nuclear weapons. Of course it was not true, but the Israeli government resisted this for years and prevented US nuclear inspectors from even fully inspecting the site. There is no doubt that since the establishment of Israel the United Sates and other countries have been providing loans and financial aids to Israel, but most of the aids were given for the purpose of restoring the destruction of the war. Over the time, US-Israel relations strengthened and then the scope of this aid also expanded to include economic and military aid. During the Arab- Israeli war in October in 1973, the US Congress also approved 2.2 Billion US dollars in emergency financial aid to Israel. It was the same war in which the Arab countries also stopped the oil supply to the countries providing support to Israel, especially United Staes, Great Britain, Canada, Holland and Japan. Similarly, in the recent past, former US President Barack Obama approved an overall package of 38 billion US dollars in military aid to Israel for the decade 2019 to 2028. The relationship between the United States and Israel has been at the centre of American foreign policy for nearly five decades.
The reasons that led to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the Unites States and Israel.
Middle East and US Strategy
After the Second World War, the Middle East, with its oil reserves and strategic waterways such as Suez Canal, was gaining the special status. Therefore, it was a very important region for World Powers, including the United States and the Soviet Union. As European Powers were now weakened by the war, America needed an important and powerful ally to fill the void.
US -Israeli relations entered a new era when in the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, Israel defeated the armies of Egypt, Syria and Jordan in a war that lasted only six days and captured the rest of the land of Palestine, and some part of Syria and Egypt. Israel emerged as a strong military power in the Middle East, because of its victory in this war. It was a time when the cold war was going on between the United States and the Soviet Union. Because Egypt and Syria were considered close to the Soviet Union and at that time, America Policy makers and experts began to see Israel as a strategic partner to counter Soviet influence in the Middle East. From then on, the United States began using diplomatic and military aid to firmly entrench in the anti- Soviet block. In the subsequent periods, the United States not only supported Israel’s military superiority in the region, but also worked to prevent any aggression or military actions against Israel by the Arab Countries. Its aim was to oppose the Soviet block and establish an American block in the form of a strong and powerful government of Israel. Thus, US Israel relations began to move forward very rapidly.
The two countries do nit have a mutual defence pact, as the United States has with its allies such as Japan and fellow members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). However, Israel is among a short list “major non- NATO allies” has privileged access to to the most advanced US military platforms and technologies.
But on going US military aid to Israel has come under greater scrutiny amid Israel’s months long war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. More than Thirty four thousand Palestinians, including a large share of Civilians, have died in the conflict, according to the United Nations and the Gaza health ministry. Israel is responding to Hama’s October 7 attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis, the deadliest in the country’s history. The Palestinian Hamas group’s action was widely condemned as terrorism by Western Power.
Israel has been the largest commutative recipient of US foreign aids since its founding, receiving about 310 US billion dollars in total economic and military assistance. The United States has also provided large foreign aid packages to other Middle Eastern countries, particularly Egypt and Iran, but Israel stands apart.
Since the start of Israel’s war with Hamas on October 7, 2023, the United States has enacted legislation providing at least 12.5 billion US dollars in military aid to Israel, which includes 3.8 billion US dollars from a bill in march 2024. ( in line with the current MOU) and 8.7 billion US dollars from supplemental appropriations act in April 2024.
American Public Opinion on Israel
American support for Israel is not only about strategic issues and foreign policy interests, but American public opinion has long been in favour of Israel and against the Palestinians. This is the reason why the US presidential election campaign is conducted with this public opinion in front. Almost every presidential candidate on the campaign trail not only acknowledges his long-standing friendship with Israel, but also expresses his intention to continue his support for Israel. According to a Gallop Poll, the American public has consistently expressed more sympathy for the Israelis than the Palestinians in the Middle East Conflict. According to a 2022 Poll, 55 percent of Americans sympathised with Israel, while only 26 percent sympathised with the Palestinians.
Israel received widespread support from the west countries following Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, but pro-Israel sentiments among some groups in the United States and many other countries has weakened as Israel’s campaign against Hamas has also killed thousands of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and has exacerbated a humanitarian crisis that is spiralling world famine, According to a March 2024 poll by the Pew Research Centre, most Americans (64%) held favourable views of the Israeli people, while a slight majority (51%) viewed the Israeli government unfavourably.
Also read: Israeli Attacks in Rafah Kill 45 Palestinians Amid Truce Negotiations
But the question arises, why is Israel so popular among the American People?
After the Second World War, there was a general softening of public opinion in favour of the Jews that was best used in favour of Israel. Moreover, violent acts by Pro- Palestinian groups, such as the unfortunate event in Munich, during 1972 Olympics, also generated sympathy for Israel. There are currently more than six million (60 lakhs) Jews living in the United States . Although these six million Jews make up less than two and a half percent of the American population, but most of the Jews are financially stable and influential in America in Business, Education, Research and Politics. The Jewish Community has given American numerous scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, celebrities and Nobel laureates. Among them are big personalities like Albert Einstein, Neil Bohr, Michal Bloomberg, Stan Lee and Calvin Klein. These are all factors that play an important role in shaping public opinion in favour of Israel and the Jews.
Israeli Technology and American Interests
Israel exists today as a powerful state due to its advanced technology, extensive production, education, and research and strong defence. Israelis technology companies often turn to American companies as partners for co-production and marketing opportunities. Creating thousands of American Jobs. Israel introduces a large number of new businesses or start-ups and technologies every year. Most of these start-ups and technologies are also acquired by large American companies, such as the Israeli company M- Systems, which makes USB, acquired by Sandisk, and the Israeli company Waze, which introduces a real-time traffic update system, was later acquired by Google. This also gives the US financial benefits in the long run and keeps its grip on the world’s most advanced technology. Israel also continues to assist the US in countering conventional security threats. Both the countries share intelligence on terrorism, nuclear proliferation and Middle East Politics. Israel’s military experience has played an important role in US policymaking against terrorism. In addition the two countries are also working together to develop the latest military technology, such as Arrow 3 missile defence system and David’s sling missile system is the result of the joint venture of the United States and Israel. Israel has also emerged as a major defence supplier to the US military. That is, the Israel’s latest technology and start ups are proving to be very beneficial for America.
The Political Influence of the Jewish lobby in the United States
One of the reasons for the close relationship between the United States and Israel is also considered to be a strong Jewish lobby in the United States. There are many organisations in the United States that advocate America’s support for Israel. The largest and most politically powerful organisations is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Members of the organisation influence American Jews in the United States as well as Christian Churches through grassroots organising and fundraising. American Jews and evangelical Christians are both considered to be the most politically engaged groups in America. These groups are also adequately represented in both the major political parties of the United Sates, the Democrats and the Republicans. These two group are religiously close to each other, have political influence and are both pro- Israel.
Conclusion
For the same reasons, the massive bailout to Israel has hardly ever been blocked by Congress. In short, while the United States continues to provide huge financial and diplomatically aid to Israel, on the other hand, Israel is also protecting American interests in the Middle East. Moreover, the common interests of Israel and the Unites States in the economic, defence, research and business fields are an important reason for the close and friendly relations between the two countries.
