There are a number of reasons why the US gives so much aid to Israel, including historic commitments dating back to US support for the creation of the Jewish state in 1948. Moreover, Israel is seen by the US as a crucial ally in the Middle East. Israel is an ally with shared goals and a mutual commitment to democratic values. President Joe Biden is facing questions from his Democratic party about the amount of aid the US sends to Israel.
In 2020, the US gave $3.8bn (£2.7bn) in aid to Israel. It is part of a long-term, yearly commitment made under the Obama administration. Almost all of this aid was for military assistance. This represents an increase of about 6% over the spending commitment for the previous decade.
On top of this, last year the US gave $5m (£3.5m) toward resettling migrants in Israel. The country has a long-standing policy of accepting Jews from other parts of the world as citizens. Over the years, US aid has helped Israel develop one of the most advanced militaries in the world, with the funds allowing them to purchase sophisticated military equipment from the US. Of the $3.8bn given to Israel in 2020, $500m was for missile defense, including investments in Israel’s Iron Dome and other systems which can intercept incoming rockets. The Israeli government invests heavily in military equipment and training, using the aid to compensate for being smaller than many other regional powers. Meanwhile, President Biden has restored some funding ($235m) for the UN agency which helps Palestinian refugees. This funding was cut by the Trump administration in 2018.
