American taxpayers have given more money to Israel than to any other nation, despite the fact that Israel is one of the smallest and richest countries on earth.

Thanks to special interest lobbying, which, until now, has largely gone unopposed, Israel receives $3.1 billion American tax dollars each year in military aid, plus hundreds of millions more for additional weapons programs. This comes to a whopping $10.2 million per day (see breakdown). But that is not all. Special arrangements that benefit Israel combined with aid paid out to other countries on its behalf cost Americans nearly $7 million more each day and thousands of jobs.

We can't afford it – morally, financially, or strategically.

We need this money at home. + Americans are hurting from a major economic downturn. Schools are closing, class sizes are increasing, wounded veterans are not receiving the care they need, families are losing their homes, businesses are going under, cities are cutting back fire and police departments and public transportation, the number of working homeless and hungry children are increasing. [x close]

It hurts the cause of peace. + By giving militarists in Israel massive amounts of American money no matter what they do, it prevents the motivation for compromise that is necessary for a peaceful resolution. It undermines the work by Israelis and Palestinians striving for peace. Our aid is used to attempt to crush the nonviolent movement by Palestinian villagers. [x close]

Israel does not behave as a friend to the US. + Israel spies on the US more than any other presumed ally. It has frequently stolen our technology and has, at times, even passed it on to adversaries of the US. Israel attacked a US navy ship, killing 34 and injuring 174, and has frequently violated US law. Israel's fundamental principles are at odds with the beliefs held by the vast majority of Americans. [x close]

Why do we use the phrase “Blank Check”?

U.S. support goes far beyond the $10 million per day in financial aid that we give it. Israel and its partisans largely decree what American taxpayers give them: massive amounts of money, American weaponry and technology, trade benefits, UN vetoes, special treatment for its lobby, letting it off the hook when it spies on us and steals important resources.

There is never any debate over the massive financial aid given to Israel, and when it asks for even more money on top of its already huge annual allotment – which it frequently does – our politicians, under enormous pressure by wealthy campaign donors and lobbying organizations, give it to them... again without public debate or questioning. Even when Israel commits massacres, tries to sink a US Navy ship, kills Americans, violates U.S. laws, and ignores Presidential statements, our politicians give Israel massive amounts of our tax money.

(See The Staggering Cost of Israel to Americans for more details and source information.)