US Aid to Israel: A Comprehensive Look at the Amount and Purpose

The US has been a significant supporter of Israel since its founding in 1948. Since then, the US has provided Israel with billions of dollars in aid.

The total amount of US aid to Israel from 1949 to 2019 is estimated to be around $244 billion. This amount includes both military and economic aid.

The majority of US aid to Israel has been in the form of military aid, with a significant portion going towards the purchase of US-made military equipment. In fact, between 2000 and 2014, Israel used US aid to purchase over $27 billion worth of US-made military equipment.

A significant portion of US aid to Israel has also been used to support the country's defense needs, particularly in the context of its conflicts with neighboring countries.

Israel has received a staggering amount of aid from the United States, with the country being the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign aid since its founding in 1948. In fact, Israel has received over $300 billion in military and economic aid since 1948, adjusted for inflation.

Since the start of Israel's war with Hamas on October 7, 2023, the United States has enacted legislation providing at least $12.5 billion in direct military aid to Israel. This aid includes $3.8 billion from a bill in March 2024 and $8.7 billion from a supplemental appropriations act in April 2024.

Most of the aid, approximately $3.3 billion a year, is provided as grants under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, which Israel must use to purchase U.S. military equipment and services. Israel has also used a portion of its FMF aid to buy equipment from Israeli defense firms, although this domestic procurement is being phased out in the next few years.

The U.S. government's foreign assistance agency says that U.S. assistance helps ensure that Israel maintains its Qualitative Military Edge (QME) over potential regional threats. This aid is also aimed at ensuring that Israel is sufficiently secure to take the historic steps necessary to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians and for comprehensive regional peace.

Here's a breakdown of the recent arms shipments and sales to Israel:

Israel has used the aid to develop one of the most advanced militaries in the world, with the funds allowing them to purchase sophisticated military equipment from the U.S. For example, Israel has purchased 50 F-35 combat aircraft, which can be used for missile attacks, and has also bought eight KC-46A Boeing 'Pegasus' aircraft for an estimated $2.4 billion.

Israel uses the aid to purchase military equipment and services from the US, with most of the $3.3 billion annual grant going towards Foreign Military Financing (FMF) cases.

The FMF program requires Israel to use the funds to buy US military equipment and services, and as of October 2023, Israel had nearly 600 active FMF cases totaling around $24 billion.

Israel can also use a portion of its FMF aid to buy equipment from Israeli defense firms, but this benefit is being phased out in the next few years.

U.S. aid accounts for about 15 percent of Israel's defense budget, and Israel also buys US military products outside of the FMF program.

Additionally, $500 million a year is slated for Israeli and joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense programs, including the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow II systems.

The US has been a production partner for the Iron Dome since 2014, and the system is used to intercept incoming rockets.

Here are some examples of how Israel has used US aid:

The United States has certain conditions and restrictions in place for providing military aid to Israel.

The U.S. president must notify Congress before selling foreign powers major weapon systems or services valued above a certain dollar threshold.

Congress can block a sale through a joint resolution, although this has never happened.

The United States cannot provide security assistance to foreign governments or groups that commit gross human rights violations, a red line enshrined in the Leahy Law.

Israel has agreed to use U.S. weapons only in self-defense.

The Biden administration has not placed further limitations or constraints on how Israel uses U.S. weapons, but they say Israel should observe international law.

In February 2024, President Biden issued a national security memo requiring recipients of U.S. military aid to give written assurances that they would observe international law in their use of the aid.

The administration has paused a shipment of large bombs to Israel ahead of a pending assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

The US public's perception of aid to Israel is complex and multifaceted. Many people in the US believe that the country receives too much financial support, with some estimates suggesting that the US has sent over $140 billion to Israel since 1949.

Critics argue that this aid perpetuates an unequal relationship between the two countries, with some even accusing the US of enabling Israel's military actions. The US government has consistently maintained that the aid is necessary to ensure Israel's security and stability in the region.

A significant portion of the aid, around $3.8 billion annually, is dedicated to Israel's military, with some of it going towards the development of the country's nuclear capabilities. This has led to concerns about the potential for nuclear proliferation and the risks associated with it.

Public scrutiny of the aid has increased in recent years, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability in how the funds are being used. The US government has responded by increasing oversight and reporting requirements, but some argue that more needs to be done to address concerns about the aid's impact.

Israel has been the largest overall recipient of US foreign aid since World War Two. In 2019, it was the second highest recipient after Afghanistan, according to USAID.

A lot of the money given to Afghanistan has gone towards supporting the US military's efforts to stabilise the country. Afghanistan has been engulfed by war since the US invasion in 2001.

Egypt and Jordan are also major recipients of US aid, receiving around $1.5bn (£1.1bn) worth of US aid in 2019. Both have their own peace deals with Israel, having once fought wars with it.

The amount of US aid to Afghanistan is expected to decrease significantly, with only $370m (£261m) requested for 2021.