There is no question that Israel has derived substantial benefits from US support. But this support has been used to pursue policies like settlement construction that were not in Israel long-term interest. The United States derived some strategic value from aid to Israel especially during Cold War. Yet these benefits cannot fully justify or explain why the United States has been willing to give Israel such consistent support over such an extended period.

Subsidizing and protecting Israel may have been a net plus for the United States at height of Cold War. But that rationale evaporated when Soviet Union collapsed and superpower competition in Middle East ended.

Today America intimate embrace of Israel is not making Americans safer or more prosperous. To the contrary. Unconditional support for Israel is undermining relations with other US allies. It is casting doubt on America wisdom and moral vision. It is helping inspire a generation of anti-American extremists. And it is complicating US efforts to deal with a volatile but vital region.

In short the largely unconditional special relationship between the United States and Israel is no longer defensible on strategic grounds. If a convincing rationale is to be found we must look elsewhere.

Source: The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy