Why do people support Israel? Political and economic factors

Editorial Team
Credit: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Israel has received unwavering support from the majority of Western nations for its homicidal actions during the past ten months. Western nations back the Israeli government militarily in addition to politically and economically. On the one hand, Israel is armed by Western governments to carry out its murderous assaults on the Palestinian people. Stated differently, they have a direct hand in the asymmetric conflict in Palestine. Several of the strongest armies in the world have backed one of the region’s most powerful armies in their fight against a few rebel groups.

However, they assent to all Israeli crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocidal attacks against the Palestinian people, and abuses of fundamental human rights. All of Israel’s transgressions have been welcomed by Western nations. This backing was evident, for example, in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the US Congress. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) sought arrest warrants for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip for Netanyahu, who was greeted like a hero by Congress and other American lawmakers.

What are the reasons behind people supporting the Palestine-Israel conflict?

A sizable portion of the Western populace and the majority of non-Western countries are against the pro-Israeli policies of Western governments. Anti-Westernism is growing globally, primarily as a result of the unwavering Western support for Israel. There are many important questions to ask at this stage. Why do Western nations risk harming their national interests by providing unwavering support for Israel’s apartheid regime? Western governments back the Israeli government for some significant reasons.

  1. The colonial heritage is the first explanation. Israel was established as one of the colonial ventures at the end of the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century by the majority of Western nations that had engaged in colonialist policies over the previous few centuries. One of Western colonialism’s most successful tools in the Middle East was Israel. At the expense of non-Western lands and countries, Western governments and nations were able to attain economic wealth and comfort. They dominate the Arab world’s political and economic structures and take advantage of its natural resources.
  2. The second reason is that Zionists control the global financial market. For the past few centuries, Zionists have dominated the financial sector, particularly the financial markets in the West. Pro-Israeli power circles are a major source of support for Western governments. Fear of not being reelected was one of the reasons US Congress members cheered Netanyahu. Every observer is aware that the American electoral system has been dominated by pro-Israeli lobbyists, who are referred to as the primary kingmakers in the American political system. For reelection, the majority of American politicians thus endorse all Israeli policy.
  3. Another reason why the West supports Israel is because of the long-standing comfort that ‌governments and pro-Israeli economic lobbying have given to Westerners at the expense of non-Westerners. The colonial practices of the West are perpetuated by this aspect. For ages, Western governments and pro-Israeli lobbyists have been taking advantage of the resources of the non-Western nations they have colonized. As long as they can make use of other nations’ resources, the majority of Westerners do not examine the source of this wealth.
  4. Fourth, Zionists have been in charge of Western nations’ political structures. The majority of politicians rely largely on pro-Israel lobbying. Recently, Westerners have realized how much they rely on pro-Israeli power circles and lobbying. Recent events in Western nations’ internal politics have made it evident that the majority of Western governments’ claims to absolute sovereignty are in doubt. Put another way, to defend the Israeli government, Western nations not only otherize other countries but also impose restrictions on the independence of their citizens. The United States and the United Kingdom are two examples of Western nations that have started to experience political divisiveness and instability.
  5. Fifth, the crimes committed by the Israeli government are concealed by the pro-Israeli circles that control ‌global media outlets. Pro-Israeli lobbyists have direct control over the majority of Western media outlets. The dominant Western media present every development from a Zionist point of view. In particular, the Western media consistently promotes Israel and attempts to hide Israeli war crimes. Reality and current events are portrayed in the mainstream media in an unflattering manner. Social media and alternative media platforms have recently given Western consumers access to alternative information while lessening the impact of conventional Western media. 

What role do economic lobbies play in supporting Israel?

Support for Israel is greatly influenced by economic lobbying, which is especially important in determining US foreign policy and guaranteeing the country’s continuous financial and military assistance.

1. Strong and wealthy lobbying organizations

Foreign issue lobbies that influence US politics consist of the Republican Jewish Coalition, J Street, and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), together with other similar groups. These organizations maintain their influence by investing large amounts of money in political donations and legislative advocacy to protect the backing Israel receives from United States citizens.

2. Impact on US Foreign Policy

Pro-Israel organizations successfully advocated during the Trump administration to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem because they had always endorsed this decision. Pro-Israel organizations work to build unity between political parties for large-scale financial aid to Israel that includes military aid, which has exceeded $260 billion since World War II.

3. Political backing and contributions to campaigns

Pro-Israel groups provide major financial support to both Republican and Democratic candidates in the United States and are thus able to secure widespread electoral support from all political factions. During the 2023-2024 election season, AIPAC contributed almost $43 million in donations to candidates from both the Democratic and Republican sides.

4. Developing Media Influence and Public Perception

These lobbies use financial assistance, media influence, and perception management in addition to direct political contributions to create an atmosphere that is supportive of Israel in US politics and society.

5. Diversity of Ideologies and Bipartisanship

As evidence of the lobby’s wide ideological reach in American politics, organizations like J Street represent more liberal pro-Israel viewpoints, while others like AIPAC tend to be more conservative and favor the Israeli Likud party.

6. Preventing Effective Mediation

Because of their advocacy for Israel’s strategic and security interests, these lobbies’ powerful influence is frequently mentioned as a factor restricting the U.S. government’s ability to function as an impartial mediator in the Israel-Palestine dispute.

7. Economic and Strategic Interests

The United States supports Israel through advocacy and lobbying, even though some observers base their claims on economic and strategic reasons for Middle East interests.

Final words

Multiple reasons, such as religious influence on morality and security alongside geopolitical strategies, drive backing for Israel. Several Christians, especially Evangelicals, show their support for Israel because their religious interpretation reveals God’s commitment to the Jewish nation and views its restoration as an expected prophecy. The security arena considers Israel a vital democratic partner that operates in the volatile Middle East region. Israel continues its battle against Hamas and Hezbollah while receiving substantial military help from the United States to maintain its position and regional security.

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Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
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