Israel Influence over the US Government - Assignment Example

Place here Does Israel Have Too Much Influence On the U.S. Government? Time) Reasons Why The United s Government is not under the Israeli influence: 1. 1. The US is a super power and has close political, social, and economic ties with almost every country. 2. 2. The US recognized Israel as an independent and free county being a supporter of UN charter. 3. 3. Both countries have shared values and agree on common issues. 4. 4. Israel depends very much on the US for financial and military help. 5. 5. Israel has always proved to be a strong supporter of the democratic values of the US. Reasons Why the United States Government Might be Under the Israeli Influence 1. 1. The US provides support to Israel on many agendas and issues. 2. 2. There is a strong Israeli lobby in the US political system. 3. 3. Israel being the largest trading partner of the US. 4. 4. Advocating each other’s interests and agenda in the Middle East. 5. 5. Continuous support on the political standing. Relationship with Israel is an important element for the United States as it constitutes strong influence in the overall policy of the US in the Middle East. The relationship is maintained and observed closely and in a supporting manner. This paper will analyze whether the US government is really under the Israeli influence or not. The United States is a super power and it has always tried to maintain strong and close relations with every country, for this reason the United States government does not have to come under the influence of any country in this world (Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs). United States has always supported independence and freedom and that is why the United States was the first country to recognize Israel as a state in 1948, which shows its acceptance towards the newly formed independent state. This is one reason why the US government has strong relations with Israel and that it should not be taken as an influence (Gilboa and Inbar). Both nations have always shared each other values and believe in a respected manner (Gilboa and Inbar). Israelis have always looked upon America and the Americans for any kind of political, financial help, while America has always supported them with their military assistance, which illustrates that Israel can never pressurize America in any regard as America has always helped it in every aspect (Gilboa and Inbar). On the other hand, The United States import diamonds, machinery, pharmaceutical and other important products from Israel which suggests that both countries are equally maintaining the give-and-take equilibrium and that America is not just funding Israel which might give a signal that it is under some pressure or influence (Gilboa and Inbar). Israelis have always appreciated Americans and the American government for its ideal democracy and has always tried to follow it by incorporating the values in its economic sector (State.Gov). America considers Israel as one of its most reliable and closest partner in the entire Middle East (Sheffer, 1997). Both countries share strong historical relationships while great mutual interests are also witnessed among the two nations, which is another reason why the two governments are too closely related to each other (Gilboa and Inbar). The United States completely understands the critical issue / conflict of Israel – Palestine and has shown its concern saying that both Palestinians and Israelis should be given their respective shares. This shows that America is not under any kind of influence of Israel; in fact it is treating and handling it just like any other country in this world (Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs). Since, the United States is fighting against terrorism and wants to diminish terrorists from the surface of this earth; it has helped and assisted Israel by means of military financing. Every year the United States invest around $3 billion in Israel to counter terrorism through the Joint Counter Terrorism Group while the countries have also formed a mutual Semi-annual Strategic Dialogue (Gilboa and Inbar; Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs). The other side of the argument suggests that the US is under the influence of Israel. Studies and researches have shown that the United States government have always provided material aid to Israel and have always supported its government policies (Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, 2014). This might be one reason why the United States is so much declined towards Israel’s help (Mearsheimer and Walt). According to many political thinkers and philosophers, there is a strong Israel lobby working in the United States that is encouraging the United States government and the Americans for supporting its political decisions and to back them in the international politics (Mearsheimer and Walt). It has also been revealed that majority of the individuals in the lobby are Jewish Americans while it also includes many Christian Zionists (Mearsheimer and Walt). To be noted, Israel is the largest single trading partner of the United States, which is quite alarming for many economists and thinkers as there are many other countries with which the American government has strong relations, and with which it can ensure string single trade relationships (Oz-Salzberger). It has also been believed that the political and economic interests of the United States government are very similar to those of Israel. For this reason, Israel has formed an influence over the country to help America in few of the crucial political matters in the Middle East (Mearsheimer and Walt). Furthermore, many theorists believe that the statement that the United States government is under Israeli influence might be true (Bar-Siman-Tov and Yaacov). As Israel is located in the Middle East, and America wants to control and monitor the region with full power and authority. For this reason it needs an ally. Israel has understood this fact and is using the US government against its political agendas (Oz-Salzberger). Israel seeks guarantee from the American government to survive in such a hostile region of the Middle East in return of the favor of the Middle Eastern projects that American government is running (Mearsheimer and Walt). The issue of Palestine-Israel conflict has raised the eyes of many nations while the United States government stays silent in this regard (Oz-Salzberger). This has exerted tension and confusion in the mind of people regarding the relationship between the two countries (Mearsheimer and Walt). Despite of the illegality and the violations of the international laws, the United States government is not taking any actions (Bzostek and Robison). It is one of the super powers in this world and the permanent member of United Nations; therefore, it is its due responsibility to consider the issue. On the contrary it has neglected it, like it has never happened, which again raises questions among the audience as it is suspicious (Mearsheimer and Walt). The US politicians have argued the actions and violations by the Israeli government on the Palestinians land, but the United States government chose to ignore their argument (Lang, 2006). There is a constant criticism of the Israeli Lobby in the United States Government, since the government has been advocating the interests of the Israelis and has been confronting them regardless of the fact that they are right or wrong (Mearsheimer and Walt). Advocating the Israeli interests in the US political system by the US government is a serious question as it has the tendency and may harm the interests of the country and the national security and moreover can also torn the image of the United States government’s image in front of the international politics (Mearsheimer and Walt). All of the aforementioned reasons points directly at the fact that the American government is under some kind of direct or indirect influence of Israel. Either the government has some kind of interest in it or whether Israel is black mailing American government and is pressurizing it, are other topics of concern, but the major issue is to identify the accurate reasons. The reasons in favor of the statement are greater in number and are more logical than compared to the reasons that are against the statement. The overall scenario is confusing and one can never actually determine whether or not the United States government is under the influence of Israel or not. Recent polls and studies have also shown mixed results therefore, it is quite complex to come up with an accurate answer. End Notes It is recommended that, in order to understand the relationship between the two countries i.e. the United States of America and Israel, the history and foreign policy of both the countries should be studied and analyzed. Furthermore, the relationship of the US government with other Middle Eastern and Asian countries should also be assessed. This will help the readers in analyzing and assessing the relationship and the influence and pressure of Israel on the United States. Various studies such as (Oz-Salzberger) and (Mearsheimer and Walt) has revealed some underlying facts which has confused the audience. It is strongly suggested that, since, it is difficult to analyze the exact reasons behind the special relationship between United States and Israel therefore a deep study and research on the subject will help in understanding and identifying the true relationship and the reasons behind the Israel lobby in the United States. Works Cited Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. U.S. Relations With Israel. 2014. Web. 2014 28-March . Bzostek, Rachel and Samuel B. Robison. “U.S. Policy toward Israel, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia: An Integrated Analysis, 1981–2004.” International Studies Perspectives. 9.4 (2008): 359-376. Print. Bar-Siman-Tov and Yaacov. “The United States and Israel since 1948: A "Special Relationship"?” Diplomatic History 22.2 (1998): 231-262. Print. Guerlain, Pierre. “The Israel lobby, American democracy and foreign perceptions of the USA.” Journal of Public Affairs 11.4 (2011): 372-381. Print. Gilboa, Eytan and Efraim Inbar. US-Israeli Relations in a New Era. 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