Taking a Closer Look at the U.S.-Israel Partnership

By A. Avery, University of Southern California

While the United States has been a steadfast ally of Israel for many years, recent events on the Gaza Strip warrant a closer examination as to why Israel has continued to receive such unwavering and unparalleled support from the U.S. 

On October 7th, the terrorist organization Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on a music festival in Tel Aviv, resulting in the murder of over 1,400 Israeli citizens. An additional 200 Israeli citizens were taken hostage, with 136 that have yet to be released. In the aftermath of this attack, Israel has retaliated by moving forward with the declared intention of fully eradicating Hamas from the Gaza strip. Under this auspice, Israel has conducted indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, with health authorities in the Hamas-run territory estimating that about 40% of the 23,357 killed were under the age of 18. 4,000 of the reported civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip are children, according to U.N. reports. The result has been the creation of a complex humanitarian emergency (CHE) that threatens to disrupt the already fragile balance of peace in the Middle East. 

As the civilian death toll in Palestine continues to rise and the U.S. continues its unwavering support for Israel, it risks stoking resentment across the developing world and driving a further wedge between the U.S. and key partnerships in the Global South. 

Political pundits often suggest that supporting Israel is essential for ensuring the survival of democracy in the Middle East, claiming that the two are inextricably linked. As Israel is the region’s sole democracy, its survival is often threatened by its autocratic neighbors that have expressed their displeasure through anti-semetic rhetoric, funding of extremist terrorist groups, and conventional warfare. Hence, the subsequent rationale suggests that withdrawing U.S. support would result in the death of democracy in the Middle East. Therefore, the only way to guarantee the propagation of democratic ideals throughout the region is to ensure the survival of Israel.

However, suggesting that the U.S.’s motivation in supporting Israel rests on its faith in democratic ideals may not be the whole truth. In fact, the U.S. has a long history of working alongside dictators in order to topple democracies. For example, in 1953, the U.S. aided in toppling a democratically-elected Iranian leader in order to prop up an autocratic leader that would ensure continued Western control of Iran’s oil reserves.

In terms of strategic gains, proponents of the U.S.-Israel partnership often claim that the relationship is necessary for the U.S. to have a foothold in the region. In reality, Israel continues to be both a strategic and financial burden to the United States. Israel was of little aid to the U.S. during both the Iranian Revolution and the first Gulf War, as any level of military aid from Israel risks triggering further Arab opposition. Conversely, the aid the U.S. provides Israel comes at a high cost. In 2022, the U.S. committed over $3.3 billion in aid to Israel alone, despite Israel’s advanced military and prosperous economy. Few other U.S. allies have received such unwavering support. 

The ongoing U.S. support for Israel strains relations with the Global South, especially as the Biden administration seeks international cooperation for the Ukraine conflict. Many nations – including Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population – have objected to the U.S.’s continued support of Israel while simultaneously attempting to rally the world against Russian violence. Unfortunately, the U.S.’s apparent hypocrisy threatens to push potential allies towards American adversaries such as Russia, China, and Iran, who have all been vocal about their disapproval of Israel’s actions. 

Recent events have illustrated a growing shift in public sentiment in the United States as well, as pro-Palestinian protests have increased in major cities and universities and social media has become a platform for resistance. Even in the U.S. House of Representatives there is internal strife. Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was censured by the House for using rhetoric in response to the Israel-Hamas war, including sharing a video with the phrase “from the river to the sea,” which critics argue calls for the abolition of Israel, leading to bipartisan backlash.

However, this still begs the question – why does the United States continue to give such unwavering support to Israel? 

The answer is lobbyists. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, wields significant power and influence in Congress. Through its broad efforts, it is able to achieve two goals: (1) pressure policymakers’ views to support Israel and (2) influence the American public’s perception of Israel to be positive. In return, according to Federal Election Commission records, the 31 AIPAC-backed lawmakers have received a total of at least $3.6 million from AIPAC since February 2022. Without AIPAC’s continued support and funding, policy makers risk losing a key source of funding.

Creating substantial change is a complex and challenging endeavor, especially in the realm of domestic politics. To better ensure U.S. policymakers represent the interests of their constituents, greater transparency and limitations are required in regards to campaign funding sources and their motivations. However, the outpouring of public frustration in regards to the influence of special interest groups over policymakers may hopefully serve as a catalyst for institutional reform. 

Regardless, it may be time to take a closer look at the U.S.-Israel partnership. Failing to do so risks further disruptions to the global balance of power, alienating potential allies, and hurting the U.S.’s reputation on both the global and domestic fronts.

Image source: Cinema 4D