Washington’s unwavering support for Israel is rooted within the aftermath of war II, the conflict , pro-Israeli political influence and PR heft.
With Israel bombarding Gaza for a second week, us President Joe Biden and his administration are sticking to a long-established script in Washington, expressing unequivocal support for Israel and its “legitimate right to defend itself” from Hamas rocket attacks.
That narrative fails to acknowledge the profound advantages the state of Israel enjoys over the Palestinians when it involves military prowess, wealth and resources. It also turns a deaf ear to growing cries from progressive Democrats in Congress to require a harder line with Israel over its military assault on Gaza.
This latest escalation in violence has killed a minimum of 213 Palestinians, including 61 children, while ten Israelis have died, including two children,
So why is that the US so unwavering in its support for Israel?
When did the US start supporting Israel?
From the start . Former US President Truman was the primary world leader to recognise Israel when it had been created in 1948.
Why was Truman so quick to try to to that?
In part due to personal ties. Truman’s former business partner, Edward Jacobson, played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for the US in recognising Israel as a state. But there have been also strategic considerations driving the choice .
What were the strategic stakes at the time?
This was right after war II, when the conflict between the US and therefore the Soviet Union was taking shape.
The Middle East, with its oil reserves and strategic waterways (think the Suez Canal) was a key battleground for superpower hegemonic influence. The US was taking up from severely weakened European powers because the primary western power broker within the Middle East .
But even then, support for Israel wasn't unequivocal.
So when did it become unequivocal?
That is partly rooted within the aftermath 1967 Six-Day War during which Israel trounced the poorly led armies of Egypt, Syria and Jordan and absorbed the remainder of what was historically considered Palestine (as well as some territory from Syria and Egypt).
Since then, the US has acted unequivocally to support Israel’s military superiority within the region and to stop hostile acts against it by Arab nations.
Were there other developments that played a role?
There was also the 1973 Arab-Israeli war that ended with Israel defeating Egyptian and Syrian forces.
Partly to drive a wedge between Egypt and Syria and thwart Soviet influence, the US used the aftermath of the 1973 war to get the groundwork for a peace deal between Israel and Egypt that was eventually cemented in 1979.
Has that influenced US aid to Israel?
You bet. Israel is that the largest cumulative recipient folks aid within the post-World War II era.
In 2016, then-President Barack Obama signed a defence agreement with Israel providing $38bn in US military support over 10 years including funding for the “Iron Dome” missile defense system .
Bear in mind, Israel isn't exactly in need of aid. it's a high-income country with a thriving high-tech sector.
Is this all almost practical geostrategic stuff?
Like all things foreign policy-related, popular opinion , money – and therefore the refore the influence money buys in politics – have also played a task in US policy towards Israel and the Palestinians.
What role has popular opinion played?
American popular opinion has long tilted in favour of Israel and against the Palestinians. partially because Israel had a superior PR machine. But headline-grabbing, violent actions by pro-Palestinian groups like the 1972 Munich Massacre during which eleven Israeli Olympic athletes were killed also generated tremendous sympathy for Israel.
Has that sympathy wavered at all?
More Americans are warming to the Palestinian cause, consistent with an annual survey conducted by Gallup.
The February poll found that 25 percent of usa citizens sympathise more with Palestinians – a two-percentage point increase over the previous year and a full six-percentage points above 2018.
Favourable ratings for the Palestinian Authority also hit a replacement high of 30 percent – a seven-percentage point improvement over 2020.
But Israel still holds much more sway within the court folks popular opinion .
That same Gallup poll found that 58 percent of usa citizens sympathise more with Israel, while 75 percent of usa citizens rate Israel favourably.
What about pro-Israeli political influence?
There are variety of organisations within the US that advocate for US support of Israel. the most important and most politically powerful is that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Members of the organisation wield influence through grassroots organising, advocacy and fundraising among American Jews within the US also as Christian evangelical churches.
How powerful is AIPAC?
AIPAC holds an annual conference in Washington, DC, with about 20,000 attendees that feature personal appearances by top US politicians. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have made appearances. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is additionally a daily attendee.
Is there a rival to AIPAC?
A smaller, pro-Israel group called J Street organised by Democrats has sought to create a constituency in US politics that's supportive of Israel and Palestinian rights.
What about influence in dollar terms?
Pro-Israel interest groups donate millions to US federal political candidates. During the 2020 campaign, pro-Israel groups donated $30.95m, with 63 percent getting to Democrats, 36 percent to Republicans. that's about twice the maximum amount as they donated during the 2016 campaign, consistent with OpenSecrets.org.
Who are a number of the US political heavyweights in Israel’s corner?
Former President Trump, driven by support for Israel from evangelical Christians and a like-minded leader in Netanyahu, was a staunch defender of Israel during his four years in office.
Large majorities of the Congress within the Democratic and Republican parties are avowedly pro-Israel.
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House legislator Steny Hoyer and Senate legislator Chuck Schumer – all Democrats – have long track records of supporting Israel and may be counted on to voice strong support for Israel’s right to self-defence in moments of conflict.
When asked last week whether more needed to be done to prevent Israel’s assault on Gaza, Pelosi responded: “The fact is that we've a really close relationship with Israel, and Israel’s security may be a national security issue for us, as our friend, a democratic country within the region.”
“Hamas is threatening the safety of individuals in Israel. Israel features a right to defend itself,” Pelosi said.
Who is within the Palestinians’ corner?
The Palestinian point of view has long been represented by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), founded in 1980 and therefore the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, an activist network founded in 2001, among others. But pro-Palestinian groups aren't nearly as active in US federal campaign spending.
Are there any heavyweights in Washington backing Palestinians?
Within the US Democratic Party , a growing faction of progressives who support the Palestinians has gained prominence on the national stage.
Lead among them are Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, both former contenders for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020. Sanders and Warren have involved conditioning US military aid to Israel on Palestinian human rights.
This is happening with the support of the United States.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 15, 2021
I don’t care how any spokesperson tries to spin this. The US vetoed the UN call for ceasefire.
If the Biden admin can’t stand up to an ally, who can it stand up to?
How can they credibly claim to stand for human rights? https://t.co/bXY99O3Wqp
In the House of Representatives, new progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib – the primary Palestinian American elected to Congress – have emerged as leading voices for Palestinians.
These younger newcomers aren't as reliant on the normal fundraising structures folks politics and are more motivated by concern about Israel’s treatment of Arabs in Gaza, the West Bank and in Israel.
Former President Carter , a Democrat, had paved the way for today’s progressives with a 2006 best-selling book titled Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.
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