Gaza Strip

Monomoy Regional High School

Essential Question: How does U.S. foreign aid to Israel affect the chance for peace in the Gaza Strip?

The United States, Israel, and the Gaza Strip

How the U.S. Relationship with Israel has affected the Gaza Strip

Alison Barrett

Global Studies 2020

Intro

Many Americans are aware that there is a longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine, especially regarding a small area known as the Gaza Strip. Nearly 1.3 million Palestinian refugees (out of a total population of 1.8 million) live there in conditions approaching the level of a humanitarian crisis. (Israel profile) Although Israel is a long-time strategic military ally of the United States, and the lone democracy in the region, some Americans believe they are contributing to this crisis by enforcing a strict blockade of Gaza and by using heavy-handed military tactics. Since these tactics do not coincide with the fundamental American values of liberty and freedom, the question arises as to whether the U.S. should continue to provide Israel with so much foreign aid. This essay will examine these issues and questions by first providing the background of the founding of Israel, which is necessary for understanding the present-day situation. Then will touch on major incidents that have occurred in Gaza, and lastly examine the U.S. foreign aid to Israel and public opinion. This essay concludes with the following opinion: The U.S. relationship and funding of Israel's military indirectly contributes to the crisis in Gaza and is inconsistent with American values such as freedom, liberty, and justice. 

Israel's History before 1948

The territory that encompasses modern-day Israel and its neighbors, also known as the Levant, has changed hands many times throughout history. These countries include Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. (Israel Profile)

According to the Bible, King David united the twelve tribes of Israel in approximately 1,000 BC. Ancient scriptures suggest that for this short period, the new nation of Israel flourished. That amicable moment of history, however, was short-lived. Soon after Israel's unification, the land was divided and conquered by countless different nations, most notably by the Roman Empire, and later, the Ottoman Empire. (Carter, 1)

For centuries, the Jewish population did not have a place to unify and call home. The discussion of a Jewish state originated as far back as 1897, when Theodor Herzl, a Jewish-Austrian journalist, argued that a Jewish state was the best option to prevent against anti-semitism. (Israel)

In 1910 a lawyer named Louis D. Brandeis became the leading public spokesman for Zionism in the United States. He believed that Zionism and American nationalism were compatible, and increased the American Zionist Movement to 200,000 members. (U.S. Recognition of the State of Israel) United States President Woodrow Wilson appointed Brandeis to the Supreme Court in 1916, affirming his belief that one could be both a good American and a "good Jew." Brandeis' support was important to the establishment of Israel; a year after he was appointed, Great Britain announced their intention to establish a Jewish homeland in their mandate of Palestine. (Our Namesake: Louis D. Brandeis)

In 1917, Chaim Weizmann, scientist, statesperson, and Zionist, convinced the British government to issue a statement supporting the establishment of a Jewish national home. This statement became known as the Balfour Declaration and was partly considered repayment to the Jews for their support for the British against the Turks in World War I. (Israel) When the war was over, the League of Nations ratified the declaration; by 1922, Britain officially ruled Palestine.

Because of this, many Jews became optimistic about the eventual establishment of a homeland, which inspired a considerable increase in immigration to the area. In the 1930s, Nazi persecution of Jews caused a new wave of immigration that concerned Arabs. This resulted in guerilla fighting between the two groups and ultimately forced Britain to issue a white paper in 1939, restricting immigration to Palestine. (Israel profile) As a result of this white paper signed by Neville Chamberlain, the Jews felt betrayed and turned to the United States for support. 

While President Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, the United States had not yet taken a stance on the conflict. As Harry S. Truman took office in 1945, however, he made it clear that his sympathies were with the Jews and accepted the Balfour Declaration, stating that it was consistent with President Woodrow Wilson's principle of "self-determination." At the end of World War II as an effect of the Holocaust, many Jewish people were displaced. President Truman and the leaders of the United Nations felt it necessary to establish the region of Palestine as a Jewish Homeland, especially after the atrocities that the Jewish people had suffered during the Holocaust.  (Creation of Israel, 1948)

Nonetheless, throughout the Roosevelt and Truman administrations, the War and State Departments cautioned against U.S. interference on behalf of the Jews, acknowledging the possibility of a Soviet-Arab alliance and the possible restrictions Arabs could impose on oil supplies. Britain and the United States then formed the "Anglo-American Commission of Inquiry" in a collaborative effort to investigate potential issues. (Israel)

Reactions from the Americans, Arabs, and Jews to the proposals were not conducive to a solution. In Palestine, Jewish extremism antagonized the British, and relations between Arabs and Jews had broken by February 1947. As the situation worsened, Britain became anxious to rid itself of the problem. 

On April 2, 1947, Britain requested that the U.N. General Assembly set up the Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP.) The committee advised the British mandate over Palestine to end and for the territory to be split up into two states. The area allotted for the creation of Israel included 55% of the territory. 

The Jewish reaction was mixed; some wanted all of the territories, and some were happy with the sliver of hope that partition granted them. The Arabs, however, were in complete opposition to the UNSCOP plan. As the partition plan was passed by the U.N. General Assembly, the Arab League Council directed the governments of its members to move their troops to the Palestinian border. One of the most notable opposing countries to the UNSCOP plan was Egypt. (Creation of Israel, 1948)

Israel and Gaza's History after 1948

The Provisional Government of Israel proclaimed itself a state at midnight on May 14, 1948. The United States was the first to recognize Israel when President Harry Truman granted them de facto recognition eleven minutes after their proclamation of independence. (U.S. Recognition of the States of Israel) Three days later, the USSR gave Israel de-jure recognition. Nearly a year after its creation, on May 11, 1949, Israel was admitted as the 59th member of the United Nations. (Israel)

Immediately after Israel declared itself a state, Egypt reacted violently. On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 181, which ultimately divided Great Britain's former Palestinian mandate into Jewish and Arab states in May of 1948. Part of the resolution stated that the areas of religious significance would remain under neither Arab nor Jewish rule, but instead under the control of the United Nations. The Palestinian Arabs refused to accept this arrangement because it seemed more favorable to the Jews since a significant Arab population still resided in the new Jewish territory. The United States supported the United Nations but also encouraged negotiations between the Arabs and Jews. (United Nations Resolution 181.)

The resolution presented by the United Nations sparked conflicts between Arab and Jewish groups within the region. Bands of attacks composed of the Arab Liberation Army and volunteers from neighboring Arab countries began an offensive based in Gaza, targeted initially at Jewish cities, settlements, and armed forces. (Israel profile)

The day after Israel declared itself independent, Arabs launched an air attack on Tel Aviv with assistance from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. Israel gained some territory previously granted to the Palestinian Arabs, and Egypt retained control of the Gaza Strip. The United States did not directly become involved with the armistice negotiations. Still, the U.S. maintained the belief and hope that the instability in the Middle East would not affect their relationship with other nations, especially the Soviet Union. (Zanotti, Jim.)

During this time, the Soviet Union was looking for a foothold in the Middle East. Both the United States and the Soviet Union realized the strategic importance of good relations with Egypt, and its new leader, President Nasser. Unfortunately for the United States, Egypt made a deal with Soviet Czechoslovakia by purchasing arms and artillery. 

The Gaza Strip changed hands once again after the crisis of the Suez Canal in 1956. Nationalist president Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt pushed for total Egyptian control of the canal. This especially angered the British, because the canal was instrumental to their trade relationship with Asia and they owned most of the ships that passed through. At the same time, the French were dealing with problems with their colony in Algeria due to uprisings supported by President Nasser. Israel immediately sided with England and France against their common enemy and launched an offensive against Egypt in 1956 by invading the Gaza Strip. (The Suez Crisis, 1956)

The United States did not want to add to its conflict with the Soviet Union, especially due to the impending cold war. Therefore, they did not support Israel, France, and Britain, and even went as far as to threaten economic sanctions against them, to force a ceasefire. (Israel) The Anglo-French Task Force withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 1956, and the Israeli army withdrew from both the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip by 1957. Israel withdrew under the impression that the Straits of Tiran, which was an important trade route, would remain open for their use. Egypt would then go on to make a blockade a decade later, which initiated the 6-day war. (Zanotti, Jim.)

Gaza in the 1960s

Part of President Nasser's plan for the Middle East was to impose a single Arab state, thus eliminating the All-Palestine government that was in control of Gaza. At this point, the Gaza Strip was incorporated into the short-lived United Arab Republic (UAR), which officially canceled all remaining Palestinian self-rule. However, the UAR collapsed in 1961 in essence because of the fundamental differences between cultures in the region, primarily between the Syrians and the Egyptians. (Zanotti, Jim.)

The next instance in which Gaza changed hands occurred at the initiation of the Six-Day War in 1967 when Israel launched a preemptive attack on Egypt and Syria's air force. Israel's military superiority enabled them to take many Arab territories, including the Gaza Strip. Arab conspirators believed that the overwhelming Israeli victory relied heavily on support from the United States. (Zanotti, Jim.) The vast areas acquired by Israel during the war were returned as a result of international pressure; however, Israel was able to negotiate from a position of strength and secure the West Bank, the Golan Heights, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Gaza Strip.

The PLO (Fatah) 

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO,) founded in 1964 to unite the Arab Palestinians and give them some political presence, was ramped up significantly after their defeat in the 6-Day war. A group called Fatah, led by Yasser Arafat, infiltrated the organization which led to Arafat's position as Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee. In hopes of accomplishing their primary goal of eradicating Israel, the PLO began launching attacks against them in the late 1960s. (1967 war: Six days that changed the Middle East.)

The PLO first based itself in Jordan but was forced to relocate to Lebanon. There, they began to carry out acts of terrorism but stopped soon after, to gain world acceptance. In 1982 the PLO moved to Tunisia and later moved to Gaza. (Israel.)

The Oslo Accords

Finally, in 1993, Israeli and Palestinian leaders met in Norway to debate a peace treaty, called the Oslo Accords. The Oslo Accords were mediated by the Norwegians and heavily encouraged by the United States. The first of the Oslo Accords, Oslo I, mandated that Israel accept the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinians, the PLO recognize Israel and renounce terrorism and that a Palestinian Authority (P.A.) would be created over five years to govern the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. (Rudoren, Jodi)

The second part of the Oslo Agreement, Oslo II, was signed two years later, and ordered the division of the West Bank into three sections. It also discussed the governance of Jerusalem, which both sides claimed as their capital. Even after the peace negotiations, many people in both Israel and Palestine did not agree with the terms and acted out in violence. In 1995 an Israeli extremist, named Yigal Amir, assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin at a peace rally. The Oslo Accords were an epic failure, with violence only increasing after their enactment.  (Rudoren, Jodi)

The Intifadas

The first intifada (uprising) occurred in 1987 when several Palestinians were killed by Israeli's in a traffic incident in Jambalaya, Gaza. Many Palestinians saw this as a deliberate offense, and as rumors continued to spread throughout the densely populated Gaza Strip, people grew more and more upset. The day after their funeral, Israeli soldiers shot into a crowd, killing 17-year-old Hatem Abu Sisi, while wounding 16 others. 

The first intifada consisted of mostly rock-throwing, boycotts and other protests against Israel's 20-year occupation of Gaza. The Palestinian complaints addressed strict curfews, the demolition of homes, and arbitrary arrests, deportations, and raids. Even though most of the protesters were completely unarmed, Israeli soldiers responded by firing rubber bullets and throwing canisters of tear gas into crowds. "The Swedish branch of Save the Children estimated that ‘23,600 to 29,900 children required medical treatment for their beating injuries in the first two years of the Intifada’; one third were under the age of ten." (Israel's Wars & Operations)/ During this time, the Hamas group emerged in Gaza as an alternative to Fatah and encouraged the violence to continue. "From 1989 to 1990, the United States continually vetoed U.N. Security Council draft resolutions which deplored Israel for its human rights abuses and non-compliance with the Fourth Geneva Convention." (Remembering the First Intifada.)

The second intifada began in 2000 when Israeli presidential candidate Ariel Sharon visited al-Aqsa, one of the holiest mosques in Jerusalem, and announced that it would remain under Israeli control. "The Intifada was – and still is - an expression of a deep disappointment and frustration over the ongoing disrespect and denial of basic rights for Palestinians caused by the occupation - including the right to free access to Jerusalem, security and development, and the refugees' right to return." (The second Intifada.) This prompted four more years of fighting and the building of a separation wall in the West Bank.

 "In the wake of continuing violence, hopes of a final peace agreement were abandoned. Most Palestinians, however, saw the outbreak of the confrontations as an inevitable result of repressive occupation and a "peace process," leading to nowhere." (The second Intifada ) In late February 2003, Saudi Arabia made a peace plan that involved Israel, leaving all Palestinian land in return for normal relations with other Arab countries. The next day, however, Israel launched an aggressive offensive, killing even more Palestinians. Hunan Mikhail, a Palestinian Legislator, said: "The intifada is a massive human response to a very inhuman situation." (Stolen Freedom.) During the second intifada, an unnamed Gazan accounts of his time in the conflict. "I was only 16 when I was shot… Just a child. They (Israeli soldiers) left me on the ground for hours. While I was there, they shot me three times. I was lying in the mud and dirt. They asked me if I could stand up and I said no. That's when they shot me again in the chest. The bullet went very close to my heart." (Gaza.)

Disengagement from Gaza

Without consulting the Palestinian government, In 2004, Israel's cabinet approved a plan to disengage from the Gaza Strip. "Living among 1.3 million Palestinians, the 8,000 Israeli settlers were controlling 40 percent of the arable land and more than one-half the water resources, and 12,000 troops were required to defend their presence." (Carter, 168.) Israel's main motives for leaving Gaza included increasing their security and improving their international status. This plan involved the forced evacuation of Gaza's Israeli community. (Remembering Israel's 'disengagement' from Gaza.)

The Gaza Strip 2007-2012

Since 2007, Hamas has become a significant influence in the Gaza Strip. Hamas refuses to commit to non-violence, recognize Israel, or accept previous peace agreements, so the Quartet (the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and Russia) imposed severe economic sanctions against the Hamas-led administration. 

There have been many conflicts since Hamas gained control of Gaza in 2007. In 2008 an incident known as Operation Cast Lead occurred after Israelis retaliated against Gaza, causing over 1,500 Palestinian deaths and only 13 Israeli deaths. The Israeli forces aimed to attack mostly rocket-launching sights, but in effect, precipitated the Palestinians to fire more rockets in response to what they described as "massacres." (Lakha, Shabbir.) In 2012, Israel assassinated Ahmed Jabari, the chief of the Gaza military wing of Hamas. This provoked Hamas to fire over 1,000 rockets from Gaza into Israel, some aimed at civilian areas, yet only four civilians and two soldiers were killed in the attacks. In response, Israel retaliated with an operation known as Pillar of Defense. "According to figures B'Tselem collected on the campaign, the Israeli military killed 167 Palestinians, including at least 87 who did not take part in the hostilities, 32 of whom were minors. According to data from Israel" (Stein, Yael)

Operation Protective Edge

Another conflict between Israel and the Hamas government of the Gaza Strip began in 2014 after three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and murdered by Hamas members. The fighting that spurred this is now known as Operation Protective Edge. 

After weeks of airstrikes and ground bombardment from Israel and rocket attacks from Hamas, thousands of people died, the majority being Gazans. Between July 8th and August 27th, 2014, more than 2,100 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip, along with 66 Israeli soldiers and seven Israeli civilians. Of the Palestinian casualties, there were 1,462 civilians, of whom 495 were children and 253 were women. However, the Israeli government claimed that they had killed "1,000" terrorists" during the assault.  (Operation Protective Edge: The facts)

The Blockade of Gaza

As of 2018, and still, to this day, the Gaza Strip is extremely impoverished and is barely improving. Gaza is home to nearly 2 million people, 70% of whom are registered refugees. With a population that large in an area of less than 150 square miles, Gaza is one of the most densely populated places in the world. In comparison, a densely populated U.S. city like Detroit, which is also approximately 150 square miles, is home to less than 700,000 residents. In Gaza, 95% of all water supplies were contaminated in 2018, almost half of its labor force is still unemployed, and there are only about 4 hours of electricity per day. Most people in Gaza continue to live in refugee camps and rely entirely on foreign aid, which has been reduced by the United States. Gaza resident Mahmoud Osamo Riashi said, "Everybody knows that Gaza is in complete darkness. People know there is no food here, there is no drinkable water, no electricity. Gaza is like a big open Prison." (Gaza)

Mass protests of Gazans along the border of Israel have been occurring since 2018 in an effort to allow for their return to the land now occupied by Israel. These protests are known as "The Great March of Return" and take place every Friday. (Gaza's generation blockade)  Since 2018 nearly 7,000 protesters have been injured, and over 100 have been killed. (Gaza's Great March of Return protests explained) Israel's violent response to these protests has been investigated thoroughly by humanitarian groups. These groups have found evidence that the Israeli military likely used U.S. made Remington M24 sniper rifles when firing on Palestinian protestors. If the Leahy laws, which state that the U.S. Departments of State and Defense cannot provide military funds to organizations that engage in gross violations of human rights, (GVHR) were applied, all U.S. funding to Israel's military would be halted. (Application of the Leahy Laws to Israel.) Some examples of U.S. recognized GVHRs include torture, rape, extrajudicial killing, and enforced disappearance. In this case, it is clear that Israel is guilty of extrajudicial killings. 

The ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in 1948 involved promised compensation to the people who were forced out of their homes. That compensation, however, was never granted. The protests also address the blockade of the Gaza Strip, which Israel imposed in response to Hamas' control. For Israel, the blockade means added security, but for Gazans, it means imprisonment. Gaza shares two borders with Israel and one with Egypt, all of which have been blockaded. The only two border crossings that remain available are Rafah on the Egyptian side and Erez on the Israeli side." (Stolen Freedom) This air, sea, and land blockade has intensely limited Gaza's access to necessary humanitarian supplies. Before 2010, items such as candles, wheelchairs, books, crayons, and musical instruments had all been denied entry on the basis of being considered dual-use-items.

Even in the case of dire medical circumstances, the chances of getting a travel visa to leave Gaza are close to none. Cancer, which is the second leading cause of death in Gaza, often requires treatment only available abroad. However, in order to leave the Strip, approval from the Israeli government is needed. 39% of critical cases that require travel visas are denied. According to the World Health Organization, "The ability of Gaza's hospitals to provide adequate diagnosis and treatment to cancer patients is severely limited due to chronic shortages of medicines and lack of medical equipment." (Gaza patients' painful journey to cancer treatment.)

On top of land and air blockades, many deem the sea blockade as the worst aspect of Israeli control. Since Gaza borders the Mediterannean sea, fishing has been a key industry for generations. With this blockade, fishermen are not permitted to fish any farther than three nautical miles offshore. This has dramatically impacted Gaza's already-stressed food supply and has also inhibited fishermen from catching more valuable fish such as sardines, which are caught further offshore. (Fishing for Justice.) "The intention of Israeli's is to starve us to death. Never. We won't allow it...We won't die of starvation. We challenge them in everything." (Gaza.) When asked about the sea blockade, a Gazan fisherman said, "You can't provide for your children only fishing in a 3-mile limit. And if you risk going beyond that, the gunboat will come and humiliate you. And the commander will decide whether to take you or not. He might shoot you, arrest you, or even leave you naked in the sea. Sometimes they spray you with sewage. It's humiliating." (Gaza.) 

Continued Conflicts in Gaza

On May 14, 2018, the United States officially moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This action put salt in the wounds of Palestinians, as they also believe that they have a right to Jerusalem. (Israel profile.)

In May 2019, fighting between Israel and Gaza escalated to the worst it had been since Operation Protective Edge in 2014. The fighting was said to be initiated after a sniper wounded two Israeli soldiers in a desperate attempt for Palestinians to show their contempt for Israel's failure to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The civilians killed in Gaza included a pregnant woman, a 12-year-old boy, and a 4-month-old girl. (After Intense Fighting in Gaza, Israel and Palestinians Observe Ceasefire.)

U.S. Funding of Israel

The United States has passed a bill that funnels $3.3 billion in annual aid to Israel. This policy was a symbol that the U.S. is still dedicated to Israeli military superiority in the Middle East. The slogan "What's good for Israel is good for America" appears to remain supreme within Washington's political elites. Senator Rubio explained the new bill's approval in light of the "unprecedented attacks" Israel is allegedly experiencing. (U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel.)

The American funding of Israel's military ventures continues unabated, notwithstanding the rapidly evolving political reality in the Middle East, and the shifting American role in the region.

This further suggests that the blind support that Israel receives from the U.S. is not motivated by a particular strategy or any aim that serves U.S. interests. Moreover, America's unconditional – and often self-defeating – financing of the Israeli war machine is directly related to U.S. domestic politics and, therefore, the overwhelming influence exercised in the United States by the pro-Israel lobby. 

It is thus known among American politicians that opposing Israel is gravely unpopular. In 2019, a bill called H.R.2407 was introduced to the House of Representatives. Chiefly, it promoted human rights for Palestinian children living under Israeli military occupation. The bill also would've required that United States' funds do not support military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children. Unfortunately, H.R.2407. was only 5% successful. (H.R.2407.)

According to the U.S. Congressional Research Center (CRS) Public Policy Research Institute, U.S. funding to Israel has reached $142 billion between 1946 and 2020. The vast majority of this aid — over $101 billion — went directly to the Israeli military budget, while Israel received over $34 billion and $7 billion in support for economic aid and missile defense.

Wars have been waged and supported in the name of Israel's security; human rights have been violated on a massive scale; Palestine's five-decade — and counting — military occupation; the protracted blockade of the devastated Gaza Strip, and much more, were all carried out, protected and maintained in the name of "Israel's security." (Erakat, Noura.)

Even though all U.S. aid to Israel continues, all the American assistance to Palestine has been cut off, including the annual $300 million for the welfare of Palestinian refugees that went towards education, healthcare, and shelter. When referring to the United States' financial role between Palestine and Israel, former U.S. president Jimmy Carter said, "Although it is inevitable that at times there will be a tilt one way or the other, in the long run the role of honest broker must once again be played by Washington." (Carter, 16)

Israel receives about one-third of the American foreign aid budget, despite having one of the world's highest per capita incomes and only .001% of the world's population. Apart from the $3.3 billion that Israel receives annually, they also receive anywhere between $500 million to $800 million as part of a missile defense package. In addition, they receive $1 billion benefits in the form of tax-deductible donations and approximately $500 million that is invested in Israeli bonds. The U.S. also holds the legal responsibility to offset the interests of Israel's borrowed money. (U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel.)

Public Opinion in the U.S.

In a 2018 survey by the Pew Research Center, "more Americans (46%) said they sympathized more with Israel, compared with 16% who sympathized more with the Palestinians; another 5% volunteered their sympathies were with both sides, and 14% volunteered neither side, while nearly one-in-five (19%) did not express an opinion." (Connection With and Attitudes Toward Israel.)

 Due to the United States being a predominantly Christian country, it is no surprise that a significantly higher percentage of people sympathize with Israelis over Palestinians. One of the leading 'arguments for why the United States should support Israel comes from Genesis 12:

 "I will make you into a great nation,

    and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

    and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

    and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

    will be blessed through you."         (Genesis 12:2-3, English Standard Version)

This excerpt from the Bible refers to Abraham, who the Jewish people are said to originate from, and the land of Israel, of which Abraham and his descendants were promised. Genesis 13 also makes key arguments, that with a strict interpretation of the Bible, would warrant the opinion of Israel as the sole Jewish homeland. 

The LORD said to Abram … 'Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.'   (Genesis 13:14-17, English Standard Version)

According to Evangelical Christians and Zionists in the United States, it is our duty as a nation to protect Israel simply because of their interpretations of these passages. (With God on Our Side.) Many Christians also sympathize with Jewish people because of the atrocities they suffered during the Holocaust. Combined, the United States and Israel have the highest percentage of Jewish citizens in the world due to immigration from around the time of World War II; 80% of all Jewish people today are either American or Israeli citizens. (Beauchamp, Zack.) 

Another reason why many Americans quickly settle on a favorable opinion of Israel is because of the commonly known fact that they are the only democracy in the Middle East. The inherent racism towards Arabs created by terrorism also does not help the Palestinian cause, especially because of the biased media coverage of controversial organizations such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization.)

Of course, most any violence and terrorism displayed on the world stage, especially from Arabs, is greatly condemned. However, a one-sided media coverage of the situation can certainly be blamed for the American public opinion. According to Vox, most of the world has negative opinions of Israel. "In almost every country surveyed, over all three years, more people said they had a "mainly negative" than "mainly positive" view of Israel. This was true in every surveyed country in Asia, Europe, and South America." (Beauchamp, Zack.) There is no question that the living conditions in Gaza, after years of military occupation and oppression by the Israeli government, go greatly unnoticed by Americans. 

Conclusion

The United States and Israel have been allies since Israel's creation as a Jewish Homeland in 1948. The relationship has since progressed to one in which Israel is the staunchest non-NATO ally of the United States, and is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid. Israel has even been described as the "U.S. aircraft carrier of the Middle East." (Israel profile)

However, the unyielding U.S. support for Israel throughout the years should not cause the U.S. to turn a blind eye to any humanitarian crisis. Public opinion in the U.S., in contrast to the rest of the world, is largely favorable to Israel; therefore, changes in public policy and foreign aid are difficult to make. Despite the long history of cooperation between the two countries, it is still important to ensure that U.S. foreign and military aid does not contribute to current conflicts in Gaza. 

U.S. military aid to Israel has allowed them to become one of the most advanced militaries globally and has helped them tremendously in their fight for existence. Similarities, like democracy and Judaism, have propelled this relationship into one that will likely never change. Independent of this, the seemingly unachievable goal of peace should continue to be a top priority for the United States. Actions such as moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, cutting off humanitarian aid to Gaza, and failing to recognize Palestine as a state, have been major setbacks in the peace process. To promote peace between Palestinians and Israelis, the U.S. should put conditions on Israel's aid by applying laws already in place, like the Leahy Laws. The U.S. support and funding of Israel, has undoubtedly worsened situations in the Middle East and is fundamentally inconsistent with U.S. values such as liberty, freedom, and equality. 

Works Cited

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