| THE LIE Americans who support military aid to Israel are not America First because they don’t have America’s best interests at heart. |
| THE TRUTH America’s military aid to Israel benefits America directly to the estimated tune of $48 billion. Ending such aid isn’t America First—it’s America Only. |
| BACKGROUND On November 12th, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) told Megyn Kelly she demands ending foreign aid to all other countries—singling out Israel—because she is America First, and suggested that anyone who disagrees is MIGA (Make Israel Great Again), not MAGA. This is a common refrain among a faction of the Right. |
| TRUTH EXPLAINED Under the current arrangement, the United States provides $3.8 billion in military assistance to Israel annually. The stipulation is that Israel must spend 75% of these funds on American products and services, which bolsters the US economy. (White House)Israel has key pro-US geo-strategic features that are not typical of other allies: Israel’s geo-strategic location; Israel’s posture of deterrence, which is critical for the survival of Jordan’s pro-US Hashemite regime and other pro-US Arab regimes; Israel’s proven defense and commercial technological capabilities; Israel’s contributions to the research & development, exports, employment and superiority of the US defense industries and high tech sector; Israel’s rapid and massive self-manned troop mobilization; Israel’s game—changing, pro-active military track record has advanced US interests.General George Keegan, a former Chief of US Air Force Intelligence assessed that the intelligence shared by Israel with the US equals to 5 CIAs. The annual budget of one CIA is around $15bn;Israel’s unconditional identification with the US by the vast majority of Israel’s public and political establishment (L and R, secular and religious).According to General Haig, if there were not Israel in the Middle East, then the US would have to invest $15bn-$20bn annually (instead of$3.8bn annual investment in Israel) for the manufacturing of a few real aircraft carriers. These carriers would be deployed to the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean, accompanied by a few ground divisions, in order to shield US soil from the wrath of Islamic terrorism, secure US’ economic interests, sustain the survival of the US’ Arab allies, and constrain China and Russia.Israel’s role as a strategic asset is underscored, when comparing the $3.8bn annual US investment in Israel to the cost of manufacturing new aircraft carriers: $10bn-$13bn for one supercarrier, while smaller carriers may cost $2.5bn-$9bn each. Moreover, deploying and operating a carrier, including a full carrier strike group of destroyers, frigates, submarines, and support vessels, incurs annual costs of $900mn-1.2bn. In addition, the annual cost of deploying a single US ground division to the Middle East is $2bn, excluding the cost of munition and missiles, with higher costs in combat-intense or logistically complex environments.The bottom lineThe US annual investment in – not foreign aid to – Israel yields a uniquely high Return-on-Investment (R-o-I) by Israel, which is acting as a force and dollar multiplier for the US economy and defense. Israel is also performing as the most productive battle-tested research and development center, as well as the showroom of the US defense and aerospace industries, and an innovation center, sharing ground-breaking battle tactics with the US Armed Forces.Israel’s military and intelligence capabilities have reduced the need for US military deployments in the region, enhancing the safety of US soldiers.Israel’s military, intelligence and technological capabilities – unmatched by any other ally of the US – have significantly lessened the burden on the US military in the Middle East, saving substantial US resources and lives, and facilitating the diversion of US resources to other regions.The intense collaboration between Israel and the US military has dramatically expanded since January 2021, when Israel joined CENTCOM (which oversees US military interests in the Middle East, Central Asia and parts of South Asia), upgrading the performance of both the US and Israel. |
| QUOTES “Israel is the largest US aircraft carrier, which does not require American soldiers on board, cannot be sunk, and is deployed in a most critical region, economically and militarily, sparing the US the need to manufacture, deploy and maintain more real aircraft carriers and additional ground divisions, which would cost the US some $15 billion annually.” — General Alexander Haig and Admiral Elmo Zumwalt”I could not have procured the intelligence . . . with five CIAs,” — General George F. Keegan |
| TAKEAWAY The U.S. doesn’t give foreign aid to Israel—it makes a high-return investment in a regional ally that saves American money, resources, and lives. Israel’s strength extends America’s reach and security, making support for Israel one of the “America First” policies Washington maintains. |
