Debate Desk
Does the Alliance With Israel Work Against American Interests?
Israel is a democratic ally that shares intelligence and technology; the aid is set by a defined agreement that Congress reviews.
The claim
Some argue that American support for Israel draws the United States into Middle East conflicts, inflames opinion in the Muslim world and costs billions that could be used at home. A more neutral stance, they say, would serve American interests.
The answer in three points
- The alliance rests on shared interests and values. Israel is the only stable democracy in the region, a partner in intelligence and counterterrorism and a source of military and civilian technology. It fights its own battles and does not ask for American troops.
- Neutrality would not make America safer. Terrorist groups and states hostile to the United States and to Israel, such as Iran and its proxies, target both. Abandoning an ally would signal weakness to others and would not change the grievances of those who hate the West.
- Aid is defined and open to debate. A ten-year memorandum signed in 2016 sets military assistance at $3.8 billion a year from 2019 to 2028, much of it spent in the United States. Conservatives may argue over the terms and conditions, and Congress may decide in its normal way, without questioning the principle of the alliance.
Support for an ally need not be unconditional to be real. The relationship has lasted because it serves both countries, and it can be discussed honestly without being abandoned.
The numbers
- The U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2016 provides $38 billion in military assistance over ten years, 2019 to 2028, according to the State Department.
- Israel destroyed Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981, an action that a later generation of observers credited with preventing Saddam Hussein's nuclear program, according to historical accounts.
- The 1973 resupply airlift of Operation Nickel Grass delivered weapons to Israel during the Yom Kippur War, according to the Air Force Historical Support Division.
What they will say next
"The alliance causes anti-American sentiment." The sources of such sentiment are many, and hostile regimes use it to rally support. American policy should rest on its interests.
"Israel's government makes mistakes." All governments do, and allies can disagree in private and in public. Friendship permits candor.
"The aid money should go home." It is a small part of the budget, and much is spent on American defense contractors. The question can be debated in Congress.
"It is a special interest." Public support for Israel in America is broad and spans parties and faiths, and it reflects shared values.
An ally is judged by what it gives and what it asks, and the record supports the partnership.
"Support for Israel costs us in the Arab world." Several Arab governments have normalized relations with Israel in recent years, which shows that regional interests are not as fixed as the argument assumes. American policy can pursue both partnerships.