U.S.-Israel Special Aid Relationship Dynamics and Implications for Pakistan

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Policy Perspectives: The Journal of the Institute of Policy Studies

Volume 13, Issue 2

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U.S.-Israel Special Aid Relationship Dynamics and Implications for Pakistan

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Author(s): Murad Ali , Glenn Banks , Nigel Parsons

Publication date (Print): 2016

Journal: Policy Perspectives: The Journal of the Institute of Policy Studies

Publisher: Pluto Journals

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Abstract

The United States (U.S.) has allocated a total of more than U.S. $63 billion economic and over U.S. $ 141 billion military assistance to Israel, more than U.S. $ 200 billion in aggregate over the last six decades. While there are several fluctuations in the amount of aid, there is also a continuum. This paper examines how and why the U.S.-Israel aid relationship is so special and unique. Focusing on historical as well as contemporary U.S. economic and military aid to Israel, the paper explores that, despite some ups and downs, aid to Israel has always remained a constant feature of the ties between the two countries. Israel has not only received the largest amount of aggregate U.S. economic and military aid, but there are also certain other special concessions available to Israel that no other U.S. aid recipient is privileged to avail. The paper identifies key dynamics that play an integral role in keeping the unparalleled U.S.-Israel aid relationship intact. Existing evidence indicates that besides factors such as shared values, including so-called democratic norms, Judo-Christian values and common geo-strategic goals; the Jewish lobby within the U.S., particularly the extremely powerful and well-organized American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is one of the most influential players tilting U.S. foreign policy in favour of Israel. The paper illustrates that Israel is a unique aid recipient which has been receiving billions of dollars in U.S. civilian and security assistance on account of these factors, rather than purely because of Israel's poverty or developmental needs. The study concludes by highlighting the current state of U.S.-Israel aid ties and the implications of overall U.S.-Israel aid relations for Pakistan.

Content

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (doi): 10.13169

Journal ID (publisher-id): polipers

Title: Policy Perspectives: The Journal of the Institute of Policy Studies

Publisher: Pluto Journals

ISSN (Print): 18121829

ISSN (Electronic): 18127347

Publication date (Print): 2016

Volume: 13

Issue: 2

Pages: 109-129

Affiliations

Dr. Murad Ali is currently Assistant Professor of Development Studies at University of Malakand, Pakistan. Glenn Banks is Associate Professor, Development Studies Programme, while Nigel Parsons is Senior Lecturer, Politics Programme, Massey University, New Zealand.

Article

Publisher ID: polipers.13.2.0109

DOI: 10.13169/polipers.13.2.0109

SO-VID: 8db101b3-93d7-42e5-ae4d-8c7fe0159c39

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

History

ScienceOpen disciplines: Education,Religious studies & Theology,Social & Behavioral Sciences,Law,Economics

Bibliography

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Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Abed, George T. “Israel in the Orbit of America: The Political Economy of a Dependency Relationship.” Journal of Palestine Studies 16, vol. 1. (1986).

[2] Allin, Dana H. and Steven Simon. “The Moral Psychology of U.S. Support for Israel.” Survival 45, vol. 3, 2003.

[3] American Israel Public Affairs Committee. “Our Mission.” http://www.aipac.org/about/mission.

[4] Bar-simon-Tov, Y. “The United States and Israel since 1948: A ‘Special Relationship’?” Diplomatic History 22, vol. 2 (1998).

[5] BBC News. “Iran Nuclear Crisis: Six Key Points.” July 14, 2015.

[6] Berrigan, F. “Made in the U.S.A.: American Military Aid to Israel.” Journal of Palestine Studies 38, vol. 3, (2009).

[7] Blade, E. “Could Israel and Pakistan Become Friends?.” Israel Today 2013.

[8] Byrd, Robert. “Senator Byrd on Loan Guarantees and U.S.-Israeli Relations.” Journal of Palestine Studies 21, vol 4 (1992)

[9] Dine, Thomas A. “The Revolution in U.S.-Israel Relations.” Journal of Palestine Studies 15, vol. 4. (1986).

[10] Feuerwerger, Marvin C. Congress and Israel: Foreign Aid Decision-Making in the House of Representatives, 1969–1976. London: Greenwood Books, 1979.

[11] Findley, Paul. They Dare to Speak Out : People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby . 3rd edition, Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books, 2003.

[12] Gilboa, E. “Trends in American Attitudes toward Israel,” in Dynamics of Dependence: U.S.-Israeli Relations , edited by G Sheffer Boulder, London: Westview Press, 1987.

[13] Gordon, B and Raphael Danziger. “End American Aid to Israel?: No, It Remains Vital.” Middle East Quarterly II, vol. 3 (1995).

[14] Green, Stephen. Taking Sides: America's Secret Relations with a Militant Israel 1948/1967. London, Boston: Faber and Faber, 1984.

[15] Ibrahim, I. Ibrahim. “The American-Israeli Alliance: Raison D'etat Revisited.” Journal of Palestine Studies 15, vol. 3, (1986).

[16] Khan, K. M. “Pak-Israel Relations.” The Nation , November 03, 2015.

[17] Khan, Z. A. “Development in Indo-Israel Defence Relations since 9/11: Pakistan's Security Concern and Policy Options.” South Asian Studies 26, vol. 1, 2011.

[18] Kissinger, Henery. Years of Upheaval. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1982.

[19] Laufer, L. Y. “U.S. Aid to Israel: Problems and Perspectives.” in Dynamics of Dependence: U.S/-Israeli Relations , edited by G Sheffer Boulder, London: Westview Press, 1987.

[20] Lipson, Charles. “American Support for Israel: History, Sources, Limits.” Israel Affairs 2, vol. 3 (1996).

[21] Mansour, Kamil. Beyond Alliance: Israel and U.S. Foreign Policy. New York: Columbia University Press, 1994.

[22] Massing, Micheal. “The Storm over the Israel Lobby.” New York Review of Books 53, vol. 10 (2006).

[23] Mearsheimer, Johan J. and Stephan M. Walt. The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy. New York: 2007.

[24] “Netanyahu Denounces Iran Nuclear Deal but Faces Criticism from within Israel.” The Guardian , July 14, 2015.

[25] Organski, A. F. K. The \)36 Billion Bargain: Strategy and Politics in U.S. Assistance to Israel. New York: Columbia University Press, 1990.

[26] Quandt, Willaim B. Decade of Decisions: American Policy toward the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1967–1976. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1977.

[27] Quandt, Willaim B. “America and the Middle East.” in Diplomacy in the Middle East: The International Relations of Regional and Outside Powers , edited by L. C Brown. London, New York: I. B. Tauris, 2004.

[28] Reich, Bernard. Securing the Covenant: United States-Israel Relations after the Cold War. Westport: Praeger Publishers, 1995.

[29] Safran, Nadav. Israel: The Embattled Ally. Massachusetts: Belknap, 1981.

[30] Said, Edward W. From Oslo to Iraq and the Road Map. New York: Pantheon Books, 2004.

[31] Shahak, Israel. Open Secrets: Israeli Nuclear and Foreign Policies. London: Pluto Press, 1997.

[32] Sharp, Jeremey M. “U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel.” Washington: Congressional Research Service , 2002.

[33] Sharp, Jeremey M. “U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel.” Washington: Congressional Research Service , 2006.

[34] Sharp, Jeremey M. “U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel.” Washington : Congressional Research Service , 2008.

[35] Sharp, Jeremey M. “U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel.” Washington : Congressional Research Service , 2015.

[36] Sharp, Jeremey M. Peace Process: American Diplomacy and the Arab-Israeli Conflict since 1967. Third Edition. Washington, D.C: Brookings Institution Press, 2005.

[37] Sheffer, G. “Introduction: Shared Values as the Basis for the U.S.-Israeli “Special Relationship”,” in Dynamics of Dependence: U.S.-Israeli Relations , edited by G Sheffer Boulder, London: Westview Press, 1987.

[38] Sofrer, S. “Towards Distant Frontiers: The Course of Israeli Diplomacy.” in Israel: The First Hundred Years , edited by Efraim Karsh. London: Frank Cass, 2004.

[39] Sorokin, G. L. “Alliance Formation and General Deterrence: A Game-Theoretic Model and the Case of Israel.” The Journal of Conflict Resolution 38, vol. 2 (1994).

[40] Stork, Joe. “Israel as a Strategic Asset.” MIERIP Report 105 , (1982).

[41] Tivnan, E. The Lobby: Jewish Political Power and American Foreign Policy. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1987.

[42] Turner, S. “The Dilemma of Double Standards in U.S. Human Rights Policy.” Peace and Change 28, vol. 4 (2003).

[43] Twing, Shawn L. “The Cost of Israel to U.S. Taxpayers: A Comprehensive Guide to U.S. Aid to Israel.” Washington Report on Middle East Affairs 14, vol. 8 (1996).

[44] “USAID.” U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants (Greenbook). http://gbk.eads.usaidallnet.gov/query/do

[45] “U.S. Foreign Assistance to the Middle East: Historical Background, Recent Trends and the FY2008 Request.” Washington : Congressional Research Service , 2007.

[46] Verbeeten, David. “How Important Is the Israel Lobby?.” Middle East Quarterly 13, vol. 4 (2006).

[47] Waxman, Dov. “The Real Problem in U.S.-Israeli Relations.” The Washington Quarterly 35, vol. 2, 2012.

[48] Wenger, Martha. “US Aid to Israel: From Handshake to Embrace.” Washington: Middle East Report 164 , 1990.

[49] Zones, S. “The Strategic Functions of U.S Aid to Israel.” Middle East Policy 4, vol. 4 (1996).