Anthony Fisher on the Inevitability of American Aid to Israel
According to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), considered by many to be the most influential lobbying group in the country, "Israel spends 75 percent of U.S. aid in the United States, purchasing military equipment." Supporters of Israel characterize this as necessary assistance to a stalwart ally, the only democracy in the Middle East, eternally besieged by enemies on all sides. Critics take the view that direct military support for Israel makes the U.S. culpable for the nearly half century-long military occupation of the stateless Palestinians, and sows mistrust for America's role in the peace process.
But America was not always Israel's benefactor. Anthony L. Fisher describes how America became Israel's go-to country for military support and the bipartisan pressure to keep it that way.