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U.S. lawmakers have long viewed Israel as an ally to help protect U.S. strategic interests in the Middle East. Maintaining Israel's regional military hegemony, according to Al-Jazeera, is a central element of U.S. Middle East policy. This has been achieved with U.S. financial aid and an increase in Israel's military arsenal.<ref name="How big...">{{cite news |title=How big is Israel’s military and how much funding does it get from the US? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/11/how-big-is-israels-military-and-how-much-funding-does-it-get-from-the-us |agency=Al Jazeera |date=11 October 2023}}</ref>
U.S. lawmakers have long viewed Israel as an ally to help protect U.S. strategic interests in the Middle East. Maintaining Israel's regional military hegemony, according to Al-Jazeera, is a central element of U.S. Middle East policy. This has been achieved with U.S. financial aid and an increase in Israel's military arsenal.<ref name="How big...">{{cite news |title=How big is Israel’s military and how much funding does it get from the US? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/11/how-big-is-israels-military-and-how-much-funding-does-it-get-from-the-us |agency=Al Jazeera |date=11 October 2023}}</ref>
Josh Paul, who resigned over sending arms to Israel, has described Biden policy in favor of "the status quo of the occupation" and a "shortsighted, destructive, unjust" policy that "will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people — and is not in the long term American interest."<ref name="Falconer">{{cite news |last1=Falconer |first1=Rebecca |title=U.S. State Department official resigns over military aid to Israel |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/10/19/us-state-department-official-resigns-israel-military-aid |agency=Axios |date=October 2023}}</ref>
Josh Paul, who resigned over sending arms to Israel, has described Biden policy in favor of "the status quo of the occupation" and a "shortsighted, destructive, unjust" policy that "will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people — and is not in the long term American interest."<ref name="Falconer">{{cite news |last1=Falconer |first1=Rebecca |title=U.S. State Department official resigns over military aid to Israel |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/10/19/us-state-department-official-resigns-israel-military-aid |agency=Axios |date=October 2023}}</ref>

==Human rights record and legality under international law==
{{see also|Israel and apartheid|October 2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip}}
The Israeli military has imposed a 16-year siege on Gaza - during which it carried out six deadly military strikes against a population living in one of the most populous places on earth. However, the White House described the 2023 attack as "unprovoked".<ref name="Guardian"/>
A team of legal experts alerted the Biden administration and the ICC prosecutor that the U.S. government might be legally implicated in Israel's ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. Following Joe Biden's travel to the Middle East, attorneys from the Centre for Constitutional Rights sent a 44-page emergency brief on Wednesday to the president, secretary of defence, and secretary of state. In it, they gave a dire warning.
International law holds that the commission of genocide entails not only the actions of the perpetrators but also those who assist and abet them in carrying out the crime. Israel is allegedly trying to carry out the crime of genocide, particularly against the Palestinian people living in the Gaza Strip, according to the CCR brief.<ref name="SperiTheintercept "/>
Critics believe that the Biden administration has tacitly approved of Israel's war crimes.<ref>{{cite news |title=The U.S. Is Giving Israel Permission for War Crimes|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/10/the-u-s-is-giving-israel-permission-for-war-crimes.html |agency=The Intelligencer|date=13 October 2023}}</ref>
Human rights organisations and the UN have also expressed alarm at Israeli authorities' declaration of a "complete siege" on the Palestinian enclave, vowing to bar food and other necessities from reaching the area.<ref name="Al Jazeera"/>

Israel, which has been accused by human rights groups such as Amnesty International of imposing an apartheid system on the Palestinians, currently receives $3.8 billion in US aid annually.<ref name="Harbaljazeera"/>
In spite of this, the US has continued to give Israel unconditional annual funding of $3.6 billion.<ref name="Guardian"/>
Since 1967, the United States has issued 43 UN Security Council vetoes to shelter Israel from accountability or to hinder an international settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.<ref name="Guardian"/>
The United States places restrictions on the use of aid, especially military aid. The Leahy Law forbids the transfer of US defence articles to armed groups involved in violations of human rights. But this law has not resulted in any penalties for any Israeli entity.<ref name="How big..."/>
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden administration has a "high tolerance" for anything that happens in Gaza.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Edward |title=U.S. Tells World to Back Israel's Gaza Strikes as Civilian Toll Rises |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/13/us/politics/blinken-israel-gaza-war.html |agency=The New York Times |date=October 2023}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 10:31, 29 October 2023

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv, Israel, 13 October 2023

Following the 2023 Israel–Hamas war on October 7, the United States started sending warships and warplanes into the region, prepared to give Israel "whatever it needs".[1] It promised more military aid to Israel, which already receives $3.8 billion in US military aid.[2]

Background

See also: 2023 Israel–Hamas war
Total US foreign aid to Israel compared to other countries. 1946-2022.[3]

After Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli cities and kibbutzim on October 7, 2023, and killing about 1,000 people, Israel bombarded Gaza with airstrikes, trapping 2.3 million people in the region and killing thousands.[4] Israel has placed a complete blockade on Gaza to prevent fuel and water from entering the Gaza Strip, as the IDF appears to be preparing for a ground invasion on the narrow, heavily populated coastal strip.[5][6][7][8][9] The United States described Hamas' preemptive attack as "unprovoked",[10] and started sending warships and warplanes into the region, prepared to give Israel whatever it needs.[1] The United States Commission on Civil Rights briefing urged the government to address the underlying issues that have led to the recent violence, such as Israel's unlawful possession of the Palestinian lands for 56 years and its 16-year siege of Gaza, "and the apartheid regime across all of historic Palestine."[11]

Since Israel's founding in 1948, it has received $158 billion in military aid from the United States, making it the greatest recipient in history.[11][12] Following Israel's victory over surrounding Arab forces in 1967 and its subsequent occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, military assistance to the country surged significantly. Iron Dome, which became operational in 2011, was created with the help of the United States, which is responsible for providing components for the system, including allocating more than $1.5 billion for missile defense for Israel in 2022.[13] As part of a record $38 billion agreement over ten years negotiated under former US President Barack Obama in 2016, US military aid to Israel exceeded $3.8 billion in 2023. Of the $3.8 billion in military aid given to Israel this year, half a billion was for Israel's missile defense. Washington has announced that it will replenish Israel's ammunition used in the recent war against Hamas.[13]

Timeline

Hours after the 2023 Israel–Hamas war on October 7, the United States started sending warships and warplanes into the region, prepared to give Israel whatever it needs.[1] US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of United States Navy's Carrier Strike Group 12, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford.[14][15][1] Israel asked the United States for Iron Dome interceptors, and President Joe Biden said Washington would quickly provide additional equipment and resources, including ammunition, which are going to reach Israel within days. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington would provide its "full support" to Israel, with guided missile launchers and F-35 fighter jets among the equipment being sent.[1]

By October 10, more ships and troops were on their way to Israel, and additional troops in the United States were being prepared to deploy if requested. One US aircraft carrier and its strike group were already in the eastern Mediterranean, and a second US carrier had left and was underway. In addition, three naval warships were sent to the area. A large number of aircraft were sent to US military bases throughout the Middle East, and US special operations forces cooperated with the Israeli military in planning and intelligence.[1]

As Israel prepares for a possible ground attack on Gaza, the Biden administration and prominent members of Congress are preparing an aid package from the United States with about $2 billion in additional funding to support Israel, Time reported.[16]

On October 12, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated America's commitment to Israel's security during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[5]

on October 14 Defence Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III announced that he had dispatched a second aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean “to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts towards widening this war”. In addition, the Air Force was sending twice as many F-16, A-10, and F-15E squadrons as before to the Persian Gulf region in order to intensify its land-based assault aircraft presence there. According to officials, the United States would have an aerial armada of more than 100 attack planes when combined with the four squadrons of F/A-18 jets that were stationed onboard each carrier. Additionally, to help with intelligence gathering and preparation for any operations aimed at locating and rescuing the 150 hostages—among them, some Americans—that Hamas is allegedly keeping, the Pentagon had dispatched a small team of Special Operations personnel to Israel.[17]

On October 15, the White House declared that it would attempt this week to get congressional approval of a fresh $2 billion weaponry aid package for Israel and the Ukraine.[18] Also US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered about 2,000 troops to be prepared for possible deployment to Israel, several defense officials said.[19][1]

According to three American officials and one Israeli official, the Biden administration was discussing about the possibility of using military force if Hezbollah joins the Gaza war.[20] The United States was prepared to send more forces as a deterrent to the Middle East if necessary.[21]

By October 17, five shipments of American weapons and equipment had arrived in Israel.[1]The United States has put 2,000 troops on high alert and extended the deployment of an aircraft carrier in the Middle East.[22]

On October 19, one day after travelling to Israel, US President urged Congress to increase military aid to the Jewish state and Ukraine.[23] Biden claimed that Hamas aimed to "annihilate" democracy in Israel.[24]

On October 20, Biden announced that the additional fund he asked Congress to authorize would come to a total of $14 billion, as part of a $105 billion military aid package.[25][24]

On October 21 the Pentagon declared that two of its most potent missile defence systems—a THAAD battery and extra Patriot batteries—would be deployed to the Middle East.[25][26]

Analysis

U.S. lawmakers have long viewed Israel as an ally to help protect U.S. strategic interests in the Middle East. Maintaining Israel's regional military hegemony, according to Al-Jazeera, is a central element of U.S. Middle East policy. This has been achieved with U.S. financial aid and an increase in Israel's military arsenal.[13] Josh Paul, who resigned over sending arms to Israel, has described Biden policy in favor of "the status quo of the occupation" and a "shortsighted, destructive, unjust" policy that "will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people — and is not in the long term American interest."[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h COPP, TARA (2023). "Ships, Planes, Weapons, Troops: Here's All the Military Support the U.S. Is Readying for Israel". Time.
  2. ^ "How much aid does the US give to Israel?". USA Facts. 12 October 2023.
  3. ^ How much aid does the US give to Israel? USAFacts. Updated on October 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Holland, Steve (20 October 2023). "Biden to seek billions in military aid for Israel as invasion of Gaza nears". Reuters.
  5. ^ a b Harb, Ali (12 October 2023). "'A message': Why has Biden dispatched a US strike group during Gaza war?". Al Jazeera.
  6. ^ Rabinovitch, Ari (13 October 2023). "U.S. ready to send more military aid to Israel, says Austin". Reuters.
  7. ^ "What Aid Is the U.S. Sending to Israel?". The Wall Street Journal. October 2023.
  8. ^ "Biden pledges military aid, political support for Israel amid Gaza war". Al Jazeera. 10 October 2023.
  9. ^ Zengerle, Patricia (11 October 2023). "Will US military aid to Israel jeopardize Biden's help to Ukraine?". Reuters.
  10. ^ "How should the US respond to the Israel-Palestine crisis? Our panel weighs in". The Guardian. 10 October 2023.
  11. ^ a b Speri, Alice (19 October 2023). "GOING ALL-IN FOR ISRAEL MAY MAKE BIDEN COMPLICIT IN GENOCIDE". The Intercept.
  12. ^ Jacobson, Louis (20 October 2023). "PolitFactFL: U.S. aid to Israel: What to know". WMFE.
  13. ^ a b c "How big is Israel's military and how much funding does it get from the US?". Al Jazeera. 11 October 2023.
  14. ^ COPP, TARA (9 October 2023). "The US will send a carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in support of Israel". AP News.
  15. ^ "US moves warships closer to Israel after Hamas attack". BBC News. 9 October 2023.
  16. ^ Cortellessa, Eric (11 October 2023). "Biden and Congress Craft $2 Billion Aid Package as Israel Vows to 'Crush' Hamas". Time.
  17. ^ Schmitt, Eric (15 October 2023). "U.S. Expanding Military Presence Near Israel". The New York Times.
  18. ^ "Biden to Push for Ukraine, Israel Military Aid". VOA News. 15 October 2023.
  19. ^ Bertrand, Natasha (October 16, 2023). "US Marine rapid response force moving toward Israel as Pentagon strengthens military posture in region". CNN.
  20. ^ Ravid, Barak (17 October 2023). "Scoop: White House has discussed U.S. military response if Hezbollah attacks Israel". Axios.
  21. ^ Martinez, Luis (18 October 2023). "How the US military's moves, including 2,000 Marines, will play into the Israel-Gaza conflict". ABC News.
  22. ^ Capaccio, Anthony (17 October 2023). "US Puts 2,000 Troops on Higher Alert as Israel Readies Assault". Bloomberg.
  23. ^ Magid, Jacob (19 October 2023). "In Oval Office speech, Biden urges Congress to boost military aid for Israel, Ukraine". Times of Israel.
  24. ^ a b Holland, Steve (20 October 2023). "Biden to seek billions in military aid for Israel as invasion of Gaza nears". Reuters.
  25. ^ a b Beale, Jonathan (October 2023). "How far would the US go to defend Israel?". BBC News.
  26. ^ "U.S. Sends More Missile Defense Systems to Middle East". The New York Times. 22 October 2023.
  27. ^ Falconer, Rebecca (October 2023). "U.S. State Department official resigns over military aid to Israel". Axios.
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