Idris Sani Dagumawa
The relationship between the two countries started 75 years back, where America declared their support for Israel 11 minutes, after the official declaration of Israel State. America supported since from the start. The idea of the formation of a Jewish state started in the late 1800, where it is called “Zionism”, a movement believed that providing a safe space for the Jewish community will bring the end of the suffering they faced around the world, fueled by the events in World War II. In 1948, the declaration of a Jewish state came to life, on the land that was previously own by the Palestine under the British control. America was one of the front liners to accept Israel as a state, because US at that time doesn’t have a defendable ally to do its bidding in the 1990s, so they needed an ally in the Middle-East, in that case having a strategic partner at that time has become imperative. And so far, the relationship has proven effective to the both countries and also serves their national interest, America has a major strong hold in the Middle-East where it can obtain its information from in the region and Israel has build its self to the one of the strongest country in the region in terms of economy, elite military personnel, science and technology, agriculture and many more, and I don’t see it ending in the nearest future.
Israel started gaining its momentum during the cold war, where the fight for influence between US and the former Soviet Union in the region emerges. After the declaration of Israel state 5 of the Arab League countries went to war with Israel, which it manages to engage while still lobbying for support from the Western state. It finally gets the support it needed in 1962 during President Kennedy’s administration, which in 6 days it regains its lost territories and concur some regions from Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. After that, Israel builds a fortress of information gathering, and obtained information from its neighboring countries and channel it back to America, which compensate the US handsomely.
Another gain for Israel is, they made alot of money from the US since the second World War, America gave money to Israel more than any other country. About 260 Billion Dollars in total which Includes economic aid, but now it gives money only for military purposes, 3.8 Billion Dollars is given annually as part of a deal sing by the Obama administration, it helped Israel build one of the strongest military in the world. But funds are given out with an agreement of, it has to be spent on American own companies in that way the money keeps going back to the US, it is kind of a gift given with right hand and collecting it back with left hand. But what makes the deal more favourable to Israel is, no any regulations so far is attached to how they use those military gears, we all know that there are rules and regulations surrounding how America’s fighting gears are to be used on only defensive purposes, but for Israel, it is a different approach where we seen alot humanitarian crises, war crimes, and human right abuses happening between them and Palestine. Israel is basically given a free pass on how it chooses to use it is military resources be it in a good way or otherwise.
Another factor to be considered is the internal politics of America, which basically a politician being a pro-Israel gives you an upper hand in getting elected into office. The existence of America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and others, which are pro-Israel lobby groups, and happens to be the one of the major campaign donors and sponsors for the US public elected officials. They promote policies that helps shape the future of Israel. What normally happens is when a policy is brought up, it is normally weight against America’s foreign policy if it favors, then they go for but if it is the opposite? it has to be dropped.
Lastly religious beliefs contributed alot in making the relationship better, where America’s big portion of voters are Evengelicans or “Born Again” Christians and they made up of quarter of the Americas population. Which in their believe, the issue of of Israel existence is not politically motivated but rather a religious one. But the recent October 7th war on Gaza, has started to change how Americans view Israel, and started to feel sympathy for the people of Palestine. Even the standing order of giving Israel free money to defend itself has started to see some resistance, because the tax payers are questioning the processes. Israel existence reduces the work load of the US in the Middle-East, they do almost all the heavy liftings.
Idris Sani Dagumawa is a Civil Engineer and he writes from Kano
