What Does the U.S. Support When It Supports Israel?

07-28-2014 • http://www.lewrockwell.com, Michael S. Rozeff

To date, the United States has provided Israel $121 billion (current, or non-inflation-adjusted, dollars) in bilateral assistance. Almost all U.S. bilateral aid to Israel is in the form of military assistance, although in the past Israel also received significant economic assistance." Other special benefits also flow to the Israeli military. Each year, the U.S. pays for about 20 percent of Israel's overall military spending, and the total places Israel as the 16th largest military spender in the world. "In 2007, the Bush Administration and the Israeli government agreed to a 10-year, $30 billion military aid package for the period from FY2009 to FY2018." Obama has renewed that pledge.

The U.S. routinely supports Israel's policies and avoids condemning Israel for its rights violations against Palestinians. It may never have done so. This week, for example, the U.S. cast the sole vote against the U.N. Human Rights Council Resolution concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The vote was 29-1. A link to the full text of the resolution is here. (The texts vary slightly in different reports.)