U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts

The United States’ Support for Israel: A Report on Aid and Foreign Policy

The United States was the first country to recognize the provisional government of the state of Israel upon its founding in 1948, and it has for many decades been a strong and steady supporter of the Jewish state. Israel has received hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. foreign aid in the post–World War II era, a level of support that reflects many factors, including a U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and the countries’ shared foreign policy interests in a volatile and strategically important part of the world.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals

The U.S.-Israel Relationship

The two countries do not have a mutual defense pact, as the United States has with allies such as Japan and fellow members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). However, Israel is among a short list of “major non-NATO allies” and has privileged access to the most advanced U.S. military platforms and technologies.

U.S. Aid to Israel

• Israel has been the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign aid since its founding, receiving about $300 billion (adjusted for inflation) in total economic and military assistance.
• The United States has provisionally agreed (via a memorandum of understanding) to provide Israel with nearly $4 billion a year through 2028.
• About half of the aid—approximately $3.3 billion a year—is provided as grants under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, funds that Israel must use to purchase U.S. military equipment and services.
• $500 million a year is slated for Israeli and joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense programs.

Conditions and Restrictions

• Transfers of U.S. military equipment to Israel are subject to relevant U.S. law.
• The United States cannot provide security assistance to foreign governments or groups that commit gross human rights violations, a red line enshrined in the so-called Leahy Law.
• Any military aid that the United States provides to recipients must only be used according to agreed-upon terms and conditions.

Public Scrutiny of U.S. Aid to Israel

Recent polls suggest that American adults are divided in their views of U.S. military aid to Israel, with a significant divergence among age groups. Support for military aid to Israel is strongest among older respondents and weakest among younger adults. Growing concerns have been raised about Israel’s campaign against Hamas, including alleged war crimes and civilian casualties.

Challenges and Perspectives

• Some experts argue 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.
• Supporters of continued aid say that it fosters ongoing collaboration between U.S. and Israeli defense industries and helps counter shared threats in the Middle East.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the United States’ aid to Israel and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. These issues are connected to SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The article also mentions the partnership between the United States and Israel, which relates to SDG 17, which emphasizes the importance of global partnerships and cooperation to achieve the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are related to reducing violence and promoting the rule of law (Target 16.1 and Target 16.3) and enhancing global partnerships for sustainable development (Target 17.16).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age
• Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms
• Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals

The article does not explicitly mention indicators, but based on the identified targets, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards those targets. These indicators include the number of victims of intentional homicide (Indicator 16.1.1), the proportion of victims of violence who report their victimization (Indicator 16.3.1), and the number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks (Indicator 17.16.1).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

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Source: cfr.org

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