Why the U.S. Supports Israel Despite Recent Backlash
The reason why the U.S. continues to support Israel both financially and militarily in the war against Gaza, despite overwhelming backlash, boils down to how the U.S. views the Middle Eastern region as a whole and the long-standing nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship. When looking at the situation, it is evident that the American government values its decades-long alliance with Israel, and, therefore, is not reacting to public pressure to decrease this support in a considerable way. Also, the U.S. tends to take a long-term, big-picture approach toward conflict, and when policymakers look at this conflict, they are not only seeing what is happening on the ground right now. They are seeing decades of policy, alliances and commitments that they cannot just throw away because 33% of Americans want to stop U.S. aid at this moment.
One major reason for wanting to maintain these ties is the strength of the relationship itself. This relationship is not something new, as the ties between the U.S. and Israel have endured for generations, and the American government views Israel as one of the only stable democracies in the Middle East. That alone puts Israel in a category that the U.S. takes seriously, one of particular strategic importance. Additionally, once the U.S. forms an alliance at this level, it almost never abandons it. Our government treats loyalty like a strategic asset, and once the bond is strong enough, it becomes something they feel responsible for protecting. For example, America has stood by NATO for almost eight decades, despite political changes and disagreements among NATO partners. So even though there is major backlash from the American public for continuing to support Israel, the American government believes that this is not a sufficient reason to cut ties with Israel, especially during a conflict of this magnitude.
Moreover, the U.S. views the Middle East through a strategic lens. When hearing American officials talk about regional instability in the Middle East, it is clear that they do not perceive the Gaza conflict as an isolated event; rather, they see it as part of a much larger struggle over influence in the region, and therefore Israel must be supported as a necessary source of security to ensure that totalitarian Islamist regimes cannot grip power. For instance, Trump has consistently mentioned that this war is much broader than Gaza and Israel: it involves Iran supplying its multiple proxies throughout the region with arms and funneling money to them for the sole purpose of attacking Israel. To our government, Israel is not just one ally, but also the main peacekeeper in a region filled with unpredictable countries. If Israel is weakened, Iran and its proxies would be strengthened, which the U.S. fears. Regardless of whether that view is right or wrong, it explains why the U.S. does not abandon Israel even when Americans are not in support of Israel. They see it as choosing between a partner they have known for decades and groups they consider hostile.
Furthermore, the U.S. worries about what would happen to its reputation if it were to abandon Israel during this conflict. Understandably so, our government deeply cares about its reputation and how international governments and their allies view it as a country. Therefore, if the U.S. suddenly stopped supporting Israel, other allies may question whether they can depend on American support. If the U.S. backed out now, every other country that relies on U.S. support would start wondering if they are next.
Domestic politics reinforce this dynamic. Supporting Israel has historically been something both Democrats and Republicans usually agree on, which is rare. For policymakers, maintaining that stance is politically easier than challenging it. Even if constituents are frustrated, those in power — on both sides of the aisle — still see Israel as a key ally.
Ultimately, I believe the U.S. continues to back Israel because of a combination of historical loyalty, strategic calculations and concerns about global reputation. Whether one agrees with these choices or not, it is clear that the U.S. is operating based on long-term considerations instead of short-term reactions. While I may not support every decision made, this seems to be the most plausible explanation for why American policy regarding Israel remains mainly unchanged.
Photo credit: Shalev Cohen / Unsplash
Photo caption: American and Israeli flags waving together
