ZOA GPD

Allies: America and Israel

  Friends and Allies:

Why America Helps Israel

Some people claim that the United States should not be so supportive of Israel or that being friends with 

Israel is making terrorists mad at us. These same people claim that the United States supports Israel so strongly because of the "power" and "influence" of the so-called "Israel lobby": Jewish Americans and Evangelical Christians.

The fact is, nothing could be further from the truth.

There are many important reasons why the United States supports Israel, and also why Israel is a helpful, loyal ally to the United States.

One source of this special relationship goes back to America's very beginning. Our founding fathers believed in God and were greatly influenced by the Bible, including "the Old Testament" or the Torah. For example, the inscription on the Liberty Bell reads: "PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF." This comes from the Book of Leviticus, which God gave the Jewish people as part of the Torah.

A replica of our Liberty Bell is on display in "Liberty Bell Park" in Jerusalem, Israel's capital. Israel established the park and had the bell replica made to salute America's Bicentennial. Another replica of our Liberty Bell is in the Israeli town of Netivot-Azata. According to the Liberty Bell Museum, the only other countries that display a replica of the Liberty Bell are Germany, Belgium

Yes, like the United States, Israel is a free and open democracy with equal rights for all. There is no discrimination. The media is freely able to report what it chooses, including criticism of the government. Israel has more companies traded in the U.S. stock exchanges than any foreign country after Canada. A walk through the streets of Tel Aviv is almost like being in New York City. All Israeli citizens can vote.

Another reason America is so supportive of Israel is because Israel has always been such a loyal and dependable ally of the United States. As the chart to the left shows, few countries have been as supportive of America in the international arena as has Israel. In the history of the United Nations, Israel has voted with America's positions in the world body 90% of the time. Canada has voted in concert with the U.S. just 49 % of the time; England 60% of the time; Egypt 14% of the time and Saudi Arabia only 10% of the time.

In 1991, the first time the United States went to war against Iraq, Iraq fired 39 Scud Missiles into Israel, yet Israel never fired back at Iraq. Why? Because Israel's ally, America, asked it not to. The U.S. was concerned that Israeli involvement in the war would result in the departure of Arab countries from the "Coalition of the Willing" and hamper our war effort. So rather than defend itself, Israel chose to help America.

"The ability of the U.S. Air Force in particular, and the Army in general, to defend whatever position it has in NATO (during the Cold War) owes more to the Israeli intelligence input than it does to any single (other) source of intelligence." So said  Gen. George F. Keegan, a retired chief of intelligence for the U.S. Air Force in 1986.

Israel was there for America during the Cold War, relaying to the U.S. what the Soviets were up to in the Middle East, with control of the critical oil reserves at stake, and Israel is again helping to be America's eyes and ears in the war against radical Islam and those who carried out the attacks of 9/11. Remember, Israel is on the front line in this struggle.

By the way, at Israel's request, Israel no longer receives any economic aid from the United States. In fact, the only aid Israel now receives is military aid. Did you know that 75% of the military aid that Israel receives from the U.S. is spent right here, helping to boost the U.S. economy and preserve American jobs? Israel also outsources jobs to America!

Also, a number of technological and military advances created by Israel have helped the United States. These include the Patriot Missile system which was used in the wars against Iraq. And remember, had Israel not bombed Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981, the United States might not have been able to defeat Iraq in 1991.

Be wary of those trying to turn Americans against our friends in Israel. It is a two-way relationship, with both countries helping one another and sharing and celebrating our common heritage and values that we cherish.