How Much Money Has The U.s. Given Israel? Since its founding, Israel has been the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign financial assistance. According to money-central.com, the U.S. has provided approximately $310 billion in economic and military aid to Israel, adjusted for inflation. This level of support underscores the multifaceted relationship between the two countries.
1. Understanding U.S. Aid to Israel: An Overview
The U.S. commitment to Israel’s security has deep roots, dating back to the nation’s founding in 1948 when the United States was the first country to recognize Israel’s provisional government. This enduring alliance is underpinned by shared foreign policy interests and strategic considerations in a volatile region. The economic and military support from the U.S. has played a crucial role in shaping Israel’s position in the Middle East.
1.1. Historical Context of U.S. Aid to Israel
What factors have contributed to the United States’ strong and steady support for the Jewish state?
The alliance between the U.S. and Israel is a result of several intertwined factors, including shared foreign policy goals, a dedication to Israel’s security, and a mutual acknowledgment of the region’s strategic importance. This commitment is highlighted by Israel’s status as a leading buyer of U.S. weapons systems and the substantial financial aid it has received since World War II. This has led to a robust defense and security collaboration between the two nations.
1.2. The Nature of the U.S.-Israel Relationship
Do the U.S. and Israel have a mutual defense pact?
U.S. Aid to Israel: A Visual Representation of Financial Support Over the Years
While the United States and Israel do not have a formal mutual defense treaty similar to those with NATO members or Japan, Israel holds the distinction of being a “major non-NATO ally.” This designation grants Israel privileged access to advanced U.S. military technology and platforms. This special status reflects the depth and breadth of the cooperative relationship between the two countries, especially in matters of defense.
1.3. Recent Surge in U.S. Military Aid
Why has U.S. military aid to Israel reached its highest levels in recent years?
The recent increase in U.S. military aid to Israel coincides with heightened regional tensions, particularly the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The United States has provided substantial support to ensure Israel’s defense capabilities amid these challenges. This support is deemed essential for Israel’s security during hostilities with groups like Hezbollah and against threats from Iran.
2. Quantifying U.S. Financial Contributions to Israel
Since its establishment, Israel has been the primary recipient of U.S. foreign aid, receiving approximately $310 billion, adjusted for inflation. While other Middle Eastern countries like Egypt and Iraq have also received significant aid, Israel’s allocation remains notably higher, reflecting the unique strategic relationship between the two nations.
2.1. Total Economic and Military Assistance
How much economic and military assistance has the U.S. provided to Israel in total?
Since its inception, Israel has received about $310 billion in economic and military assistance from the U.S., accounting for inflation. This substantial figure underscores the U.S.’s long-standing commitment to Israel’s security and stability in the region. The consistent flow of funds has bolstered Israel’s defense capabilities and supported its economic development.
2.2. Shift From Economic to Military Aid
How has the focus of U.S. aid to Israel changed over time?
From 1971 to 2007, the U.S. provided significant economic aid to Israel. However, nearly all U.S. aid now supports Israel’s military, which is among the most advanced in the Middle East. This shift highlights the evolving nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship, with an increasing emphasis on defense cooperation and security assistance.
2.3. Current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
What are the terms of the current agreement for U.S. aid to Israel?
Under the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the U.S. has committed to providing Israel with $3.8 billion annually through 2028. This agreement solidifies the financial support that Israel can expect from the U.S., allowing for long-term planning and defense procurement. The MOU ensures a consistent and predictable flow of funds to support Israel’s security needs.
2.4. Emergency Aid Since October 7, 2023
How much additional military aid has the U.S. allocated to Israel since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023?
Supplemental Appropriations Act: Billions in Aid to Israel
Since October 7, 2023, the U.S. has allocated at least $12.5 billion in direct military aid to Israel through enacted legislation. This figure includes $3.8 billion from a March 2024 bill, consistent with the current MOU, and $8.7 billion from a supplemental appropriations act in April 2024. Some analysts report that the total military aid during this period may be as high as $17.9 billion, including the cost of replenishing weapons provided to Israel.
3. How Israel Utilizes U.S. Aid
The majority of U.S. aid to Israel, approximately $3.3 billion annually, is provided as grants under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program. These funds are designated for Israel to purchase U.S. military equipment and services, enhancing its defense capabilities.
3.1. Foreign Military Financing (FMF) Program
How does Israel primarily use the funds received through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program?
Israel primarily uses the $3.3 billion it receives annually through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program to procure U.S. military equipment and services. This ensures that the aid is directly invested in strengthening Israel’s defense infrastructure and capabilities. In October 2023, the Biden administration noted that Israel had nearly six hundred active FMF cases, totaling around $24 billion.
3.2. Procurement From Israeli Defense Firms
Can Israel use U.S. aid to purchase equipment from its own defense companies?
Historically, Israel has been allowed to use a portion of its FMF aid to buy equipment from Israeli defense firms, a unique benefit not extended to other recipients of U.S. military aid. However, this domestic procurement is being phased out in the coming years. Currently, U.S. aid accounts for about 15 percent of Israel’s defense budget.
3.3. Missile Defense Programs
What portion of U.S. aid is allocated to Israeli missile defense programs?
Approximately $500 million per year is allocated for Israeli and joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense programs. These funds support the research, development, and production of systems like the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow II. The U.S. and Israel collaborate on these projects, with U.S. military contractors like Raytheon manufacturing components such as Tamir interceptor missiles for the Iron Dome in Arizona.
3.4. The Role of U.S. Military Contractors
How do U.S. military contractors contribute to Israel’s defense systems?
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/mco/XJRGQ4QV3ZCDTNQMLGWH53PE64.jpg “Raytheon missile defense system being launched, highlighting U.S. contractor contributions to Israel’s defense capabilities.”)
U.S. military contractors play a vital role in enhancing Israel’s defense systems. For example, Raytheon manufactures Tamir interceptor missiles for Israel’s Iron Dome at its facilities in Arizona. This collaboration ensures that Israel has access to advanced technology and equipment, bolstering its ability to defend against missile attacks. The U.S. also benefits through research funding and maintaining strong defense industry ties.
4. Conditions and Restrictions on U.S. Aid
The provision of U.S. military equipment to Israel, like other foreign governments, is governed by U.S. and international law. Congress is notified before significant weapon systems or services are sold, and lawmakers have a review period.
4.1. Congressional Oversight
How does Congress monitor and regulate arms sales to Israel?
Congress plays a critical role in overseeing arms sales to Israel. Before major weapon systems or services above a certain dollar threshold are sold, the president must notify Congress, allowing lawmakers to review the sale. For transactions with Israel, the threshold ranges from $25 million to $300 million, depending on the defense articles or services. Congress can block a sale through a joint resolution, though this has never occurred.
4.2. Presidential Waivers
Can the president bypass congressional review of arms sales to Israel?
In special cases, the president can bypass the congressional review if they deem that a national security emergency exists. President Biden has used this expedited waiver process for both Israel and Ukraine. This allows for swift action when urgent security needs arise, ensuring that Israel can receive necessary support without delay.
4.3. The Leahy Law and Human Rights
Does the U.S. place restrictions on aid to countries with human rights concerns?
The United States cannot provide security assistance to foreign governments or groups that commit gross human rights violations, a principle enshrined in the Leahy Law. The Biden administration announced in February 2023 that it would not provide arms to recipients deemed likely to commit serious human rights violations. However, some critics argue that the Leahy Law has not been consistently applied to Israel.
4.4. End-Use Monitoring
How does the U.S. ensure that military aid is used appropriately?
The U.S. government is responsible for monitoring the end use of the military equipment it provides to recipients, ensuring that it is used according to agreed-upon terms and conditions. For example, the Reagan administration banned transfers of cluster munitions to Israel for several years in the 1980s after determining that Israel had used them on civilian targets during its invasion of Lebanon.
4.5. International Law Compliance
What measures has the U.S. taken to ensure Israel complies with international law in its use of U.S. weapons?
White House Statement on Safeguarding Humanitarian Aid
Israel has agreed to use U.S. weapons only in self-defense. In February 2024, President Biden issued a national security memo requiring recipients of U.S. military aid to provide written assurances that they would observe international law in their use of the aid and facilitate the delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance in conflict zones. In May, the administration reported that it was reasonable to assess that Israel had used U.S. weapons in instances inconsistent with its International Humanitarian Law obligations.
5. Military Aid Since the October 7 Attacks
Since the attacks on October 7, Israel has been using American-made weapons against its foes, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. The Biden administration has reportedly made more than one hundred military aid transfers to Israel, though only a few have been made public due to congressional review thresholds.
5.1. Expedited Weapon Deliveries
Has Israel received expedited deliveries of weapons from the U.S. since October 7?
Yes, the Israeli military has reportedly received expedited deliveries of weapons from a strategic stockpile that the United States has maintained in Israel since the 1980s. Shortly after Hamas’s attack, the United States also agreed to lease Israel two Iron Dome missile defense batteries that Washington had previously purchased from the country. This rapid response ensures that Israel has the resources it needs to defend itself.
5.2. Types of Aid Provided
What types of military aid has the U.S. provided to Israel since the recent conflict began?
The aid has included tank and artillery ammunition, bombs, rockets, and small arms. In April 2024, news reports indicated that the Biden administration was considering new military sales to Israel valued at more than $18 billion, including fifty F-15 fighter aircraft, though the shipments wouldn’t arrive for years. Additionally, the Israeli military is reportedly purchasing high-tech products, such as surveillance drones, directly from smaller U.S. manufacturers.
5.3. Surveillance Drones and High-Tech Purchases
Are there specific examples of high-tech equipment that Israel is purchasing from the U.S.?
Advanced Surveillance Technology: Drones Utilized by Israeli Military
The Israeli military is purchasing some high-tech products, such as surveillance drones, directly from smaller U.S. manufacturers. These advanced technologies enhance Israel’s intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities, contributing to its overall security.
6. Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME)
QME has been a fundamental aspect of U.S. military aid to Israel for decades, formally established in U.S. law in 2008. It ensures Israel’s ability to defeat any credible conventional military threat with minimal damage and casualties.
6.1. Legal Basis for QME
How is Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME) defined in U.S. law?
QME is defined in U.S. law as Israel’s ability “to defeat any credible conventional military threat from any individual state or possible coalition of states or from non-state actors, while sustaining minimal damage and casualties.” This principle requires the U.S. to ensure that any weapons it provides to other countries in the Middle East do not compromise Israel’s QME.
6.2. Ensuring Israel’s Military Superiority
How does the U.S. ensure that its arms sales to other countries do not undermine Israel’s QME?
In several cases, the United States has provided Israel with offsetting weaponry as part of larger regional arms sales to ensure that Israel’s QME is maintained. This approach ensures that Israel remains the first in the region to receive access to the most sophisticated U.S. military weapons and platforms.
6.3. Access to Advanced Military Technology
What advanced weapons systems has Israel received to maintain its QME?
F-35 Stealth Fighter: A Cornerstone of Israel's Military Edge
Israel has been the first in the region to receive access to the most sophisticated U.S. military weapons and platforms, such as the F-35 stealth fighter, of which Israel has fifty. This access to cutting-edge technology helps maintain Israel’s military advantage.
7. Growing Scrutiny of U.S. Aid to Israel
While Israel initially received widespread support following the October 7 attacks, increased civilian casualties in Gaza and the exacerbation of a humanitarian crisis have led to growing scrutiny of U.S. aid to Israel.
7.1. Shifting Public Opinion
How has public opinion in the U.S. shifted regarding aid to Israel?
According to a March 2024 poll by the Pew Research Center, most Americans (64 percent) held favorable views of the Israeli people, while a slight majority (51 percent) viewed the Israeli government unfavorably. Polls suggest that American adults are divided in their views of U.S. military aid to Israel, with significant divergence among age groups, with older respondents showing stronger support and younger adults showing weaker support.
7.2. Concerns Over Civilian Casualties
Why are some leaders and organizations expressing concern over Israel’s actions in Gaza?
Some U.S. and foreign leaders, the United Nations, human rights groups, and other parties have voiced growing concern about Israel’s heavy air and ground assaults on Gaza, as well as its alleged obstruction of humanitarian aid to the densely populated enclave. Israel has stated that the high civilian death toll is a result of Hamas using civilians as human shields.
7.3. Legal Challenges and Accusations
What legal challenges has Israel faced regarding its military actions?
In December 2023, South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of perpetrating genocide, a claim which Israel and the United States both denounced as unfounded. In May, the prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) charged both Hamas and Israeli leaders with multiple war crimes and crimes against humanity.
7.4. Political Criticism and Aid Conditions
How have U.S. politicians responded to the situation in Gaza regarding aid to Israel?
While President Biden has been a staunch supporter of Israel’s right to self-defense, he and some members of U.S. Congress have been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s prosecution of the war and his government’s planning for postwar Gaza. Some lawmakers have sought to condition U.S. military aid to Israel or to block sales altogether.
7.5. Paused Shipments and Policy Disagreements
Has the U.S. government taken any action to express concerns over Israel’s military conduct?
In early 2024, the Biden administration paused a shipment of bombs to Israel, effectively acknowledging that Israel was using American-made weapons in a manner that resulted in civilian deaths in Gaza and that risked violating the laws of war. The White House has also spoken out against what they view as Netanyahu’s lack of planning for postwar Gaza.
8. Alternative Perspectives on U.S. Aid to Israel
In recent years, some analysts have argued that U.S. aid to Israel should be reevaluated because Israel is now a wealthy country with one of the most advanced militaries in the world.
8.1. Arguments for Reevaluating Aid
Why do some experts believe that U.S. aid to Israel should be reconsidered?
Some U.S. and Israeli analysts suggest that U.S. aid to Israel should be reevaluated because Israel is now a wealthy country with a highly advanced military. They argue that Israel is capable of providing for its own security, and U.S. aid unnecessarily distorts the bilateral relationship and the countries’ respective foreign policies.
8.2. Calls for Phased Reduction
Have any experts proposed specific alternatives to the current aid arrangement?
CFR Senior Fellow Steven A. Cook has suggested that U.S. military aid should be phased out over ten years and replaced with a series of bilateral agreements on security cooperation. This move would benefit both countries and help normalize their relations.
8.3. Impact on Israel’s Defense Industry
Does U.S. aid have any unintended consequences for Israel’s defense sector?
Some experts argue that U.S. aid actually weakens Israel’s defense industrial base while serving primarily as a guaranteed revenue stream for U.S. defense contractors. This perspective suggests that greater self-reliance could strengthen Israel’s defense capabilities in the long run.
8.4. Counterarguments in Favor of Continued Aid
What are the main arguments in support of maintaining U.S. aid to Israel?
U.S. Security Assistance Enhancing National Security
Supporters of continued aid argue that it fosters ongoing collaboration between U.S. and Israeli defense industries and experts, helping the countries counter shared threats in the Middle East, particularly Iran. They assert that U.S. aid remains a vital and cost-effective expenditure that enhances U.S. national security and should not be reduced or conditioned.
8.5. Strategic Implications of Reducing Aid
What message would reducing U.S. aid to Israel send to its enemies?
CFR Senior Fellow Elliott Abrams has argued that ending U.S. military aid today would send a message to all of Israel’s enemies that Israel’s greatest friend was stepping away, encouraging them to intensify their plans for more, and more deadly, assaults on the Jewish state. This perspective emphasizes the strategic importance of maintaining consistent support to deter potential aggression.
9. Current State of the U.S.-Israel Relationship
Despite recent tensions and criticisms, the U.S. has largely rallied behind the Israeli government, particularly in response to international legal challenges.
9.1. Response to ICC Investigations
How has the U.S. government responded to the ICC’s investigation and warrant applications for Israeli leaders?
The Biden administration has strongly criticized the ICC’s decision to apply for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, calling it “outrageous” and “profoundly wrong-headed.” This response underscores the continued support for Israel despite concerns over specific military actions.
9.2. Expanded U.S. Military Presence
How has the U.S. adjusted its military presence in the Middle East to support Israel?
The Biden administration has expanded the already large U.S. military presence in the Middle East to protect U.S. installations and ships, as well as to help defend Israel. U.S. forces have assisted Israel in neutralizing Iranian missile and drone attacks and have been protecting merchant shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden against Houthi attacks.
9.3. Strains and Challenges
What challenges has the U.S.-Israel relationship faced in recent years?
Prior to the war, the U.S.-Israel relationship had suffered some strains over the rhetoric and policies of Netanyahu’s government, including its plans to curb the Israeli Supreme Court’s powers and its approval of more Jewish settlements in the West Bank. These issues have raised concerns among some U.S. lawmakers about the direction of Israeli policy.
9.4. The Two-State Solution
How do differing views on the two-state solution affect the U.S.-Israel relationship?
The so-called two-state solution has been a long-running U.S. foreign policy goal, including for the Biden administration. However, differing views on this issue have contributed to strains in the relationship, particularly regarding the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which critics say undermines prospects for a future state for Palestinians.
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FAQ: U.S. Aid to Israel
1. How much money has the U.S. given Israel in total?
The U.S. has provided approximately $310 billion in economic and military aid to Israel since its founding, adjusted for inflation.
2. Why does the U.S. provide aid to Israel?
The U.S. provides aid to Israel due to shared foreign policy interests, a commitment to Israel’s security, and the region’s strategic importance.
3. What is the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program?
The FMF program provides grants for Israel to purchase U.S. military equipment and services, enhancing its defense capabilities.
4. How does Israel use U.S. aid?
Israel uses U.S. aid primarily to purchase military equipment and services from U.S. companies and to fund joint missile defense programs.
5. What is Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME)?
QME is Israel’s ability to defeat any credible conventional military threat with minimal damage and casualties, ensured by U.S. law.
6. Has U.S. aid to Israel increased recently?
Yes, U.S. military aid to Israel has increased due to heightened regional tensions and the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
7. Are there any conditions on U.S. aid to Israel?
Yes, U.S. aid is subject to U.S. and international law, including restrictions on human rights violations and requirements for end-use monitoring.
8. What is the Leahy Law?
The Leahy Law prohibits the U.S. from providing security assistance to foreign governments that commit gross human rights violations.
9. How does Congress oversee arms sales to Israel?
Congress is notified before major weapon systems are sold and has a period to review the sale, with the ability to block it through a joint resolution.
10. What are some alternative perspectives on U.S. aid to Israel?
Some analysts argue that U.S. aid should be reevaluated due to Israel’s wealth and military capabilities, while others support continued aid for strategic and collaborative reasons.
