Emboldened by decades of unpunished aggression, Israel has now plunged headlong into military recklessness—pulling its American enablers and the broader Middle East into yet another chapter of destabilising chaos. Following Israel’s unprecedented attacks on Iranian territory, the world is bracing for a new wave of destruction in the Middle East.
The White House press secretary stated that President Donald Trump would decide “within two weeks” whether to launch potential strikes on Iran. If Trump gives the order to attack Iran, he is required to inform Congress within 48 hours, and the operation cannot exceed 60 days. Without congressional approval, he cannot declare a prolonged war, initiate a full-scale ground, air, or naval campaign against Iran, or sustain any large-scale military operations that require budget allocations—since the power of the purse lies with Congress.
Nevertheless, at this point, the United States continues to offer Israel almost unconditional support, both diplomatically and militarily.
The foundation of this unwavering support in U.S. foreign policy lies not only in the economic interests of the defence industry but also in ideological rituals of loyalty. However, this support is no longer merely a strategic preference for the U.S.; it is evolving into a growing security risk and a threat to its international credibility.
Since World War II, the U.S. has provided Israel with at least $260 billion in aid. Washington currently provides Israel with $3.8 billion annually in military assistance, a figure fixed under a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding signed during the Obama administration, covering the fiscal years 2019–2028. According to the Congressional Research Service, around 80% of U.S. military aid to Israel must be spent on American-made defence products. This makes Israel both a customer and a testing ground for American weapons. What appears to be foreign aid functions as a subsidy for the U.S. arms industry. While Israel acquires advanced weapons, the U.S. defence sector benefits from guaranteed sales and battlefield-tested systems.
Beyond the weapons used in the field, consider the Iron Dome missile defence system: Between 2011 and 2021, the U.S. contributed a total of $1.6 billion to its development, and in 2022, Congress approved another $1 billion. In reality, the primary beneficiaries of this budget were American companies that developed the system’s components and software infrastructure.
This “profit-dependent conflict structure” indicates a system where conflict is incentivised over peace. The more conflict, the more sales and the more weapons tested. Thus, Israel becomes not only America’s most loyal ally but also an indispensable commercial partner for its defence industry.
The influence of this commercial structure on political decision-making cannot be ignored. Figures like former CIA Director James Woolsey and former Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta have been staunch supporters of Israel, both during and after their time in office. After retirement, these individuals frequently take positions on the boards of defence companies or at pro-Israel think tanks. This “revolving door” mechanism institutionalises unconditional loyalty to Israel within the U.S. security bureaucracy. Consequently, Washington’s stance toward Tel Aviv becomes not merely a foreign policy preference but a deeply embedded institutional reflex. Israel is no longer just an ally—it has become a structural component of America’s military-political decision-making mechanism.
In American politics, support for Israel has transformed from rational analysis into an ideological loyalty test. During the 2024 presidential election process, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump competed to demonstrate their support for Israel. Harris defended a $14.3 billion military aid package during a period when thousands of civilians were killed in Gaza. Trump declared that if re-elected, he would “meet all of Israel’s demands.”
However, this attitude contradicts the increasingly critical stance of the American public. According to 2025 data from the Pew Research Centre, more than half (53%) of American adults now hold a negative view of Israel—up from 42% in March 2022. While public criticism is growing, the political class remains silent. In America, opposing Israel amounts to “political suicide.” For instance, Representative Ilhan Omar was removed from the Foreign Affairs Committee for criticising Israel’s policies in Gaza. Critiquing Israel is framed as a threat to national security.
The sustainability of this system is made possible by powerful lobbying mechanisms. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) alone made over $53 million in direct contributions during the 2024 presidential elections. Total donations exceeded $70 million. That 361 of 365 AIPAC-backed candidates won demonstrates the deep influence of this lobbying network in American politics.
This financial pressure suppresses political diversity. Voices in Congress that criticise Israeli policies are quickly marginalised. As a result, U.S. foreign policy along the Israeli line is no longer democratic but driven by lobbying interests.
This unconditional support for Israel now poses serious threats to the security of the United States itself. Reports that Tel Aviv has failed to inform Washington in advance of certain attack plans against other countries in the region underscore the need to classify Israel as an “uncontrolled risk factor.”
Following Israel’s attacks on Iran, not only have U.S. military and civilian assets in the region become potential targets again, but the support given to Israel is also damaging the United States’ security and its global leadership image.
A 2023 report by the International Commission of Jurists warned that continued U.S. financial support for Israel’s actions could expose it to legal risk by making it complicit in war crimes. This situation renders the U.S. a vulnerable actor—not just politically, but legally.
The grim calculus is clear: Washington’s unconditional support for Israel has morphed from a strategic alliance into a self-perpetuating engine of violence—one that enriches arms manufacturers, silences dissent, and entangles America in a cycle of escalation it can no longer control. With each bomb dropped on Gaza, each reckless strike on Iran, and each billion-dollar weapons shipment rubber-stamped by Congress, the U.S. surrenders more of its credibility, security, and legal immunity to Tel Aviv’s belligerence.
This is not diplomacy; it is a hostage situation. The American public, increasingly critical of Israel’s atrocities, watches as their representatives prioritise AIPAC’s checks over constituents’ cries for accountability. The world watches as Washington bankrolls war crimes while pleading for global stability. And history will watch, with unforgiving clarity, as the U.S. squanders its power not to lead, but to enable destruction.
It is time for the American people to reflect on who truly benefits from this alliance? The American people and their interests—or the military industrial complex and lobbying elites? Only by answering these questions with courage can American democracy become part of the solution, not the problem, in the crises of the Middle East.
