Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene faced criticism after tweeting inaccurate information about U.S. spending in Israel. In her tweet, she claimed that not a single American dollar had been spent on the war between Israel and Hamas, despite the fact that the U.S. has provided aid and armaments to Israel for decades.
Acclaimed horror novelist Stephen King was among those who corrected Greene, pointing out that the U.S. has been providing aid to Israel for years. Community Notes on Twitter also added a correction to Greene’s post, stating that the U.S. has given Israel approximately $260 billion in aid since World War II, with a significant portion going toward military expenses.
The issue of American aid to Israel has become a topic of debate amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. In 2022 alone, the U.S. committed over $3.3 billion in foreign aid to Israel, with nearly all of it going toward the country’s military.
Since the end of World War II, Israel has been the largest recipient of U.S. foreign assistance, receiving at least $158 billion in bilateral assistance and missile defense funding. In 2016, the two countries signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) securing $38 billion of military aid from the U.S. through 2028.
Furthermore, Israel has been able to purchase advanced military equipment, including 50 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, with the help of U.S. assistance. The United Arab Emirates has also expressed interest in acquiring these jets.
The American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and Christians United for Israel (CUFI) are two influential organizations that actively support funding for Israel. Another organization, J Street, supports funding for Israel as long as it doesn’t infringe upon Palestinian rights.
Additionally, Israel exports defense equipment to the United States, primarily to India, Azerbaijan, and Vietnam. In 2019, the U.S. purchased $1.5 billion worth of such equipment.
The primary purpose of U.S. military funding for Israel is to ensure its qualitative military edge over other countries in the region, according to the Congressional Research Service.
In the current conflict, Israel is utilizing its own developed Merkava tanks and Eitan APC, as well as previously acquired American F-35 jets and the U.S. Patriot missile defense system.
The United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement, signed in 1985, was the first free trade agreement between the U.S. and another country. Both nations have benefited from the arrangement, with trade between them totaling $49 billion in 2016.
Following the recent attack by Hamas, President Biden requested an additional $14.3 billion in aid for Israel, as part of a larger $106 billion request for various countries and causes.
It is evident that Israel has been able to enhance its military capabilities largely due to the financial support from the United States. It is also clear that a portion of the billions of dollars in U.S. aid has been spent on the current conflict.
In recent years, U.S. funds have accounted for 15% of Israel’s total defense budget.
In conclusion, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s claim that not a single American dollar has been spent on the Israel-Hamas war was refuted by various sources, including Stephen King and community corrections on Twitter. The U.S. has a long history of providing significant financial aid to Israel, with a substantial portion going toward military expenses.
