The 'special relationship' USA-Israel: diplomacy, military aid, intelligence, and lobbying

The United States has been Israel’s principal ally and protector since the late 1960s. This alliance, often described as a ‘special relationship,’ rests on three pillars: massive military aid (more than $300 billion accumulated in current dollars), close intelligence cooperation (despite crises like Pollard), and near-unconditional diplomatic support (more than 50 vetoes in the Security Council). The pro-Israel lobby in the USA (AIPAC, Conference of Presidents, Mega Group) constitutes a key variable for understanding theories linking Israel to networks of influence within American elites.

1. The Ambiguous Beginnings (1948-1967)

Contrary to a widespread narrative, the US was not an unconditional ally of Israel from the start. Truman recognized Israel immediately (May 14, 1948) but against the advice of his Secretary of State George Marshall and the State Department establishment, which was traditionally pro-Arab (for petroleum-related reasons). The US imposed an arms embargo during the 1948 war.

Eisenhower (1953-1961) forced Israel to withdraw from the Sinai in 1956-1957, threatening economic sanctions. France was Israel's main arms supplier in the 1950s and cooperated on the nuclear program (Dimona).

Kennedy initiated the rapprochement (first Hawk missiles in 1962) and coined the expression 'special relationship.' Johnson deepened it: delivery of Skyhawk A-4s (1966) and Phantom F-4s (1968). The Six-Day War (1967) was the turning point: Israel crushed Soviet-equipped Arab armies, demonstrating its value as an anti-Soviet strategic ally.

2. The Structural Alliance (1967-1991)

After 1967, Israel became the principal US strategic ally in the Middle East, with three functions:

• Anti-Soviet bulwark: counterweight to USSR influence (Nasser's Egypt, Syria, Iraq)
• Military laboratory: American weapons were tested under real conditions by the IDF
• Intelligence source: the Mossad shared intelligence on the Soviet bloc and the Arab world

Yom Kippur War (1973): Pivotal moment. Nixon ordered a massive airlift (Operation Nickel Grass) despite opposition from some within his administration. Kissinger used the war to realign Egypt toward the US (shuttle diplomacy). Consequence: Sadat broke with the USSR, the US became the sole regional arbiter.

Camp David (1978-1979): Carter mediated between Begin and Sadat. The Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty was 'purchased' by the US: Israel received $3 billion/year and Egypt $2 billion/year in American aid — an arrangement that continues to this day.

Reagan (1981-1989): Strategic cooperation agreement (1981, signed by Sharon and Weinberger). Israel obtained Major Non-NATO Ally status (1987). But the Pollard affair (1985) revealed the extent of Israeli espionage and caused a profound trust crisis in the American intelligence community. Reagan was also the era of Iran-Contra, where Israel served as an intermediary for selling weapons to Iran (the Mossad facilitated the transfers).

3. The Post-Cold War Era and Oslo (1991-2001)

The end of the USSR eliminated the anti-communist justification for the alliance. George H.W. Bush (1989-1993) distanced himself: he conditioned loan guarantees on a settlement freeze, causing a confrontation with Prime Minister Shamir. AIPAC, for the first and only time, lost a major showdown with the White House.

Clinton (1993-2001) restored the 'special relationship' to its highest level. He sponsored Oslo (1993), the treaty with Jordan (1994), the Camp David II summit (2000). His negotiation team was massively pro-Israeli (Dennis Ross, Martin Indyk — former AIPAC director turned ambassador).

It was during this period that the Mega Group was most active. Founded in 1991 by Charles Bronfman and Leslie Wexner, this group of 20 American Jewish billionaires officially aimed to coordinate pro-Israeli philanthropy. Wexner is Epstein's principal known financial backer.

4. The Post-9/11 Era (2001-2016)

9/11 completely aligned American and Israeli security agendas. The 'War on Terror' provided a common framework. Sharon immediately declared that Arafat 'is Israel's Bin Laden.'

Intensified intelligence cooperation: massive NSA-Unit 8200 data sharing (documented by Edward Snowden in 2013 — the US shared raw intercepts including those of American citizens with Israel, without minimization).

Bush Jr. unconditionally supported Sharon then Olmert. Obama attempted a recalibration (Cairo speech 2009, JCPOA Iranian nuclear agreement 2015) but the fundamentals of military aid remained intact: the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding raised aid to $38 billion over 10 years (2019-2028).

5. The Trump-Netanyahu Era (2017-2025)

Trump broke with decades of bipartisan policy:

• Recognition of Jerusalem as capital (December 2017)
• Recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan (March 2019)
• Abraham Accords (2020): normalization with UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco
• Withdrawal from the JCPOA (Iranian nuclear deal)

Biden maintained military aid and diplomatic support, even after October 7, 2023, but tensions emerged over Gaza operations (critical UN veto). The supplementary $14 billion aid package was voted in 2024.

6. The Pro-Israel Lobbying System

AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee)

• Founded in 1954 (under the name AZCPA) by Isaiah Kenen
• Considered the most powerful lobby in Washington (alongside the NRA)
• Did not make direct donations (before 2022), but rated elected officials and directed contributions
• In 2022, created a Super PAC (United Democracy Project) spending more than $100 million per electoral cycle
• Annual budget: approximately $100 million

Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

• Coalition of 51 American Jewish organizations
• Speaks on behalf of the American Jewish community to the White House

Mega Group

• Founded in 1991 by Charles Bronfman and Leslie Wexner
• 20 American Jewish billionaires (Lauder, Spielberg, Lester Crown, Edgar Bronfman, etc.)
• Official objective: coordinate philanthropy and pro-Israeli engagement
• Wexner is the founder of the Mega Group AND Epstein's principal financial backer
• The Mega Group meets twice a year, no formal legal existence
• In intelligence circles, the name 'Mega' has been associated with an Israeli source within the American government (1997 FBI memo mentioning an 'agent MEGA') — the link with the Mega Group remains unproven

Other Influential Organizations

• ADL (Anti-Defamation League): founded in 1913, monitoring and combating antisemitism, but also accused of serving the interests of the Israeli government
• JINSA (Jewish Institute for National Security of America): neoconservative think tank, bridge between American and Israeli security establishments
• Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP): founded by Martin Indyk (former AIPAC), influential think tank in Middle East policy
• ZOA (Zionist Organization of America): right wing of the American Zionist movement

7. Military Aid in Numbers

• 1949-1970: primarily economic aid, modest volume
• 1971-1998: approximately $3 billion/year (economic + military)
• MOU 1999-2008: $26.7 billion over 10 years
• MOU 2009-2018: $30 billion over 10 years
• MOU 2019-2028: $38 billion over 10 years ($3.3B FMF + $500M missile defense/year)
• Cumulative total (1948-2024): more than $310 billion (inflation-adjusted)
• Israel is the largest recipient of American aid in history

8. Intelligence Cooperation

• SIGINT agreements (electronic intercepts): NSA/Unit 8200 sharing documented
• Satellite intelligence: Israel has access to classified American satellite imagery
• Counter-terrorism: close Shin Bet/FBI and Mossad/CIA cooperation
• Technology: Israel is a hub for cyber intelligence (NSO Group/Pegasus)
• Tensions: Pollard affair (1985), 'Israeli wiretapping' scandal in Congress (2019 allegations), NSO/Pegasus used against American officials