Why does the US seem to overwhelmingly support Israel?

Question

It doesnt seem logical that israel should be a major interest of the US. They do not have oil, their affiliation with the US is destabilizing the region, and they dont have a shared religion. Here are some reasons that i have heard:

-Israel is essentially an economic client to the US, it buys a lot of military equipment so the US naturally caters to its economic partner

-Israel has a lot of rich people who influence Washington through lobbyists.

-It is a commitment to manifest something in the bible that says the jews are to have the nation of Israel (details on this one are vague)

-Its a white nation in a region of arabs.

-Israel is a "mercenary state" that will do our bidding in a middle east region that is anti american yet crucial to american economy

I dont know, so i cant believe in one of these, but on moral grounds, it seems logical and decent not to support israel, with israel's record of international law violations and atrocities which are poorly covered by media

Answer 1

you've touched on many of the reasons (and there is no one single reason) but you've missed perhaps the most relevant cause--the state of israel as it exists today was essentially established by the US. i'm oversimplifying an amazingly complex historical event here, but this is the basic reason for US support for israel. 60 years ago there was no nation of israel. in the aftermath of world war II, in response to events such as the holocaust (and for other strategic reasons that would require literally years of study to even begin to comprehend) the US, along with her allies established what is currently israel in what was ostensibly an attempt to give jews (who have been kicked around by the christian nations for 2,000 years) a land of their own.
of course the real reasons for helping establish and continuing to support israel are far more complicated--but this is a bare bones stock reason for the US support.

by the way, while israel certainly may have a poor historical record, the truth is that applying the morality of individuals to the policies and actions of bodies as large as nations is simply to misunderstand the nature of systems. nation-states create our ideas of morality. to entities as large and complex as a nation-state, our ideas about ethics are simply scripted protocols utilized to inform the actions and increase the efficiency of their metaphorical cogs (people). our ideas about ethics are written for us by broad cultural interpretations of history--and it is nation-states that write the version of history that best helps advance their cause. moral/immoral...these are distinctions made by men about individual behavior--we are worker bees who are incapable of understanding the synergistic morality of the living hive.

p.s. i notice that their are a lot of people taking very clear-cut sides. you seem to have a strong opinion yourself. i'd urge you (and anyone else) to remember that things just aren't that simple. a lot of people want to see the world in black and white--and that is understandable, it's far easier to believe that way. but we're never going to make any real headway until a lot more people start to realize that there aren't good guys on one side and bad guys on the other--there are just passionate fallible people. you grew up in a certain place, were taught certain things, and learned certain things--so you see the world a certain way. other people grew up in different places, were taught different things and learned different things--is it really so surprising that they see the world a different way? and is it really so impossible to realize that if you had lived in different circumstances you would have totally different beliefs (and would be just as sure that you were right)? i'm not directing this at anyone in particular--but, c'mon people--try stepping outside of your box. if more people would try and do that, it just might help solve some of these problems.

Answer 2

Well, actually, it dates back to the cold war days, when the US and Russia were enemies.
First of all, Russia was a big supporter of Israel, because Russia wanted a warm water port, and as well, to spread the influence of the worker's party.
Only problem was, Israel wasn't interested in turning into a prison state, like eastern europe. So, when it started to get goods, it usually came from britian, or the US.
Russia, on the other hand, started to supply everyone in the arab states, with tanks, planes, missiles, and ammo for shooting....and even trained pilots in egypt, to fly the migs they sent over.
The US, saw this as a stability point, and as well, Israel is one of the only Democracies in the middle east...most of the others are police states, King ruled monarchies, or, coup powered militant havens.
Plus, Israel's harbors, and it's location, near the suez, is a useful spy vantage point, if needed, for soviet shipping at the time.
Nowadays, there are a lot of people that share citizenship between Israel and the US, but not enough to power a lobby, or run the country, like some conspiracy theorists have come up with.
Or, for that matter, the muslims have their own lobby, and so does any other minority....including the nazi party of america.
Mostly, I think we stick up for Israel, because they are fighting for what they believe is right. And what is the worst atrocity, having a wedding party blown up by a suicide bomber, or having a bomber, trying to strafe an enemy position, hit the militant, and kill a civilian, who was being used as a shield?
Publicity, is what keeps Hezbollah going...they want the world to think Israel is evil....but what Hezbollah does, hiding behind women and children, is despicable.

Answer 3

Cos basically there are as many Jews in the USA as in Israel, about 7 million, and they are the largest single ethnic group in Manhattan after the Anglos, so they are a very powerful American group. They are mostly sucessful business people, artists and actors, politicians, and professionals. Arabs are white as well as brown. There are different Arab ethnic groups as well. It's a kalediscope world, dude.

Also the American Government officially feels guilty for having so many Jews being allowed to die in Europe before the US finally did something and only after being pushed by the Japanese Empire.

They seem to have a policy of being proactive and brutal in dealing with opponents of Israel, as the powerful fundamentalist Christian electorate, who represent a significant proportion of registered voters have decided that the Bible is up to the seventh seal of Armageddon and that the Jews have to be appeased and drawn into the bosom of Christianity as a prelude to the final destruction. The Christians and the Jews will unite against the "demon" - for that read "demonised tribe, beliefs and nations" .

And that is why

Answer 4

First off, they are one of the few stable entities in that area of the world. They arn't training suicide bombers to attack women and children.

The actually are a precurser to the Christian religion. As the U.S. was based (contrary to what some on here might say) on the Bible and Christianity. So there is that religious link.

Not only did God say to Abraham that he would give Abraham the land around him (while he was standing near Salem - later renamed Jerusalem) but in the Bible it states "I will bless those who bless thee and curse those who curse thee".

As for their record of "atrocities look at what the others have done to them. Then decide if there isn't some warrent for the actions that Israel has taken:

Answer 5

I think it has a lot to do with Israel being an ally and also when Bush said, "you are either with us or against us." That statement has backed us in a corner so that we are forced to make a choice.

This is the kind of mess that cowboy diplomacy gets us into. I pray that we never get another Bush into office.

PS. ignore the dummies that are trying to insult your history eduation. I read your question and it has nothing to do with history but more of theory and our stance on Israel TODAY. You have a very valid question.

Answer 6

America has a lot of Jews in high places that descend from Israel and frequently send money and goods to the country.

Therefore... They support Israel as the Jews also "donate" money to campaigning politicians.

..

Answer 7

Because Hezbollah are terrorists that murdered over 200 American soldiers!

Because Israel are fighting the terrorists!

Let's see.. Who should the US support:

a.) A very close ally
b.) Terrorists that like use women and children as human shields

It's a no brainer, even for a half-brainer.

Answer 8

the all powerful jewish lobby !
- reality, not myth

jews constitute only 2% of the population, dominate most of the important institutions: academics, politics, the media, the professions, and particularist organizations that influence culture

forty-five percent of the top 40 of the forbes 400 richest americans are jewish
one-third of american multimillionaires are tallied as jewish
twenty percent of professors at leading universities are jewish
globally, forty-five percent of the jews live in the united states, 35% in israel

list is endless ... 2% of population holding over 30% wealth
+
usa has veto power in un
(isreal knows that fact only too well, rest follows automatically)

Answer 9

You're missing the whole point and, no offence but you have no idea about the history of Isreal or US. I suggest you read "By way of deception" written by a former Katsa, Victor Ostrovsky. And for your information, all most all the economic powerhouses in US are either run by a Jew if not they have an interest. US and Isreal are not two entities, technically they are but practically they are just one entity.

Answer 10

Lets put this in perspective for you.

I steal you house that your family built by chasing you away with a shotgun and you were defesneless and no law was on your side. Generations later the government offers your house back in to you family and forms it into a duplex. You take it since you need a place to stay since no one really wants you. So while your sleeping your friend staying over gets killed by your neigbor and your son gets kidnapped and shipped off to who knows were. Law Enforcement has no authority practically.

What would you do?

Answer 11

It's not just the lobby or congress man,it's your ppl 2,look at the answers,do they give a damn about the taxes they pay? Do they give a damn about America? Do they give a damn about Christianity? Judaism believes that their "Messiah" will appear in Jerusalum,the promised land,while the bible says it's the anti-christ that will appear,so confusing. Most of the people of America support the idea,,jew or not,let them stay in the shadow,let their damn money support war,whatever....