The Aid That Lets Washington Control Israel
Everyone treats U.S. aid to Israel as if it were a symbol of friendship or loyalty. In reality it is a pressure instrument. The money is small compared to the scale of Israel’s economy and defense sector, but the political cost is enormous. Every dollar comes with expectations, leverage, and accusations that Washington can activate whenever it wants to force restraint or shape Israeli decisions. That is why cutting the aid could strengthen Israel instead of weakening it. Israel is no longer a fragile state dependent on foreign charity. It is a regional power with its own defense industry, intelligence capabilities, and a growing economy. What matters is strategic alignment, not a yearly payment that functions more like a leash than support. If the United States truly wants a stable partner in the region, it can offer the things that actually matter: joint defense programs, intelligence cooperation, diplomatic backing, and technology partnerships. These build power. The current aid package mostly builds political friction. Ending the aid would not isolate Israel. It would free the alliance from a structure that has turned support into a bargaining chip.