Why does the US support Israel?
It’s a simple question, but simply stating it as a question
can elicit defensive or hostile reactions.
Supporters of Israel find the question itself offensive
because they see Israel as a democratic nation with a right to their own land and freedoms.
So, why wouldn’t the US support them?
Supporters of Palestine find the question offensive
too, because they see Israel’s current policies as oppressive and an endangerment to both
Palestinians and their land.
So, why would the US support them?
Objectively, both questions
are valid, and we can’t know exactly why US leadership holds their stance on Israel,
but we
can explain how the US began sending billions of dollars in aid annually to Israel, and
why that
policy still stands.
First off, the US didn’t always support Israel.
They sent some humanitarian aid right
after World War Two, but that wasn’t seen as preferential treatment, nor was it particularly
uncommon.
This is important to note, because in the aftermath of World War Two, clear
alliances weren’t yet established, and the US wanted to be perceived by the Middle East
as fair
and impartial.
A strategy that was working...until the generally anti-western Arab Nationalist
Movement gained momentum, and the USSR started courting Arab nations.
This was during the
Cold War, a time period in which the USSR and the US were actively competing for ideological
influence over almost every region on Earth.
To remain relevant in the Middle East, the US set
out to establish closer ties with Israel, because Israel was already a democracy with
strong
anti-communist leanings.
The US wanted to establish Israel as a bulwark against communist
influence and a partner for their intelligence and military operations.
As such, it was in the
United State’s best interest to make Israel as strong and stable as possible.
Since then, the threat has changed but not the arrangement.
The US still supports a strong
and stable Israel, but the country is no longer a bulwark against the spread of communism.
It is
now seen as a bulwark against the spread of Muslim Extremist Ideals, like those shared
by Al
Qaeda and ISIS.
Which Israel does do, but that is still not the reason for continued attention to
Israel.
The real reason is popular support.
Initially, foreign aid to Israel was seen as anti-communist, a hugely popular idea among
Americans.
Now foreign aid to Israel is largely seen as protection for Israel from hostile
neighbors and the Muslim world in general.
After 9/11, around 55% of all Americans supported
Israel, whereas only 15% supported Palestine, a trend that continues.
According to a recent
gallup poll, 62% of Americans supported Israel in their recent conflict with Palestine, while
only
18% supported Palestine.
Anti-muslim sentiment did flare in the US after 9/11 and is potentially
on the rise again due to the current war with ISIS.
It is likely that some of that support comes out
of fear and a poor understanding of the Muslim world.
This is the political climate that makes it
convenient for Politicians to support Israel.
But even that isn’t the whole story.
The United States government is slow to change, and significantly influenced by the religious
right.
A movement that tends to stand staunchly behind the status quo and is more sympathetic
to Israel than the public at large.
So even if popular support did shift closer to Palestine, inertia
alone could keep the US allied with Israel for some time.
If you’d like to learn more about the middle east and what is happening there please check
out our video on Syria and the emerging refugee crises it is causing in the area.
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