Israel is at war with Hamas, sparked by the terrorist organization’s bloody assault into Israel on Friday, Oct. 7. That day, Hamas launched 5,000 rockets into southern Israel and waged a savage attack on Israeli civilians, killing over 1,000 and kidnapping hundreds more. The death toll has risen to 2,600 people in Israel and the Gaza Strip.
In the days since, President Biden and the vast majority of Democrats and Republicans in Congress have pledged their unwavering support to Israel. Here are Five Facts on the history and scope of the U.S.-Israel alliance.
- The United States was the first country to recognize Israel as an independent state.
At 12:11 a.m., on May 14, 1948, President Harry Truman recognized Israel as a legitimate Jewish state just 11 minutes after the new nation declared its independence, making the United States the first country to extend recognition. This immediate support helped Israel gain acceptance and support on the world stage amid the outbreak of war with surrounding Arab states.
- Israel and the U.S. have been important security partners for decades.
The U.S.-Israel alliance is fortified through various defense cooperation agreements, starting with the Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement of 1952. This cooperation has helped to facilitate peace treaties between Israel, Egypt and Jordan, and it has helped avoid major interstate Arab-Israel conflicts since 1982. The U.S. and Israel regularly conduct joint military exercises to bolster their military capabilities, such as a drill earlier this year with 6,400 U.S. troops and 1,500 Israeli soldiers, alongside significant numbers of aircraft, naval vessels and artillery systems.
- Roughly a quarter of a million people living in Israel hold dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship.
Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, about 120,000 Americans have emigrated to Israel. With many of those expatriates starting families, there’s now an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 residents of Israel who are dual U.S.-Israeli citizens. Meanwhile, it’s estimated there are more than 800,000 Israeli citizens living in the U.S.
- The U.S. and Israel maintain a robust economic relationship totaling $50.6 billion in trade annually.
The U.S.-Israel economic alliance covers a wide array of sectors, including information technology, biotechnology and the defense industries. In 1986, the two nations established the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement, which aimed to lower trade barriers on various goods, facilitating a more seamless trade flow between the two nations.
- An Israeli leader has delivered a joint address to Congress nine times, tied with France for the most of all countries.
In Congress, Democratic and Republican members have both strongly affirmed the relationship between the U.S. and Israel. This week, 392 members of Congress sponsored a resolution backing Israel following the attacks by Hamas. In July 2023, another resolution affirmed the United States’ staunch support for Israel. The resolution reads: “Standing with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists.”
Additionally, Israeli leaders have repeatedly delivered a joint address to Congress, with both current Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former leaders such as Yitzhak Rabin addressing Congress multiple times.
Read Full Article »