(dramatic music) (bomb explodes) - [Narrator] Israel's response in Gaza to the Hamas attacks has led to protests across the
US demanding a ceasefire, with many calling for an end
to US military aid to Israel. - If you want my money,
you better listen to me. - [Narrator] The US provides
about $3.8 billion in aid to Israel every year. And since World War II, the US has provided more foreign aid to
Israel than any other country. But today, there are
increasingly vocal calls for more scrutiny of that
aid from the left wing of the Democratic Party, including threats to scuttle Biden's
request for $14.3 billion in additional assistance to Israel. - It's changing the nature
of the discussion now. It was once frowned upon to
criticize Israel publicly, and now you're seeing more and more that people are doing so, and those calls are
getting louder and louder. - This is a simple
request for information. - [Narrator] On January 16th, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced
a resolution that sought to impose conditions on
continued aid to Israel. - It simply requests a report on how USA aid is being used. This is a very modest,
common sense proposal. - Sanders' resolution
would freeze aid to Israel unless the State Department
produced a report within 30 days, examining
whether Israel has committed human rights violations in Gaza. - What is going on in Israel
right now is being done significantly with US military aid. So the 2,000 pound bombs
which have the capability of wiping out entire neighborhoods, those are American bombs. - [Narrator] As expected,
the Senate overwhelmingly rejected Senator Sanders'
resolution in a 72 to 11 vote. - We can and should continue
to push Israel towards a targeted prosecution of the
war against Hamas and Gaza, but passing this resolution
does not do that. In fact, I would say it is
counterproductive to it. - Are we complicit? And the answer obviously is yes, we are. And that's why I brought
up this resolution. And I and other members
will continue to fight for accountability from Israel. - [Narrator] Even though
the resolution failed, it represents a historic level of scrutiny for USA to Israel. - Just the fact that
the Senate is now forced to debate this issue publicly really shows that there's a changing tide. Even if it didn't go anywhere and it was overwhelmingly rejected, the fact that senators
are now forced to grapple with this question publicly
shows that there is increasing pressure to do more.
(light music) - [Speaker] An historic moment for Zion, which is celebrated in
Washington at the office of the Jewish Agency for
Palestine, as a small boy runs the flag of the new
Jewish state out on the staff. - Well, 1948, the United
States was first country in the world to recognize Israel. - [Philip Jessup] The
United States recognizes the provisional government
as the defacto authority of the new state of Israel, - But there really wasn't
financial assistance attached. There was a little bit of money, loans to help resettling all
the people into Israel. And of course, this was still
right after the Holocaust. - [Speaker] Many had suffered
great hardships in the past. She, for instance, was evidently
once merely a number in some Nazi (indistinct). - Which was an important
part of the context for the creation of Israel. - [Narrator] In the 1950s and '60s, the US provided the new country
with economic aid. But by the early 1970s, US aid became mostly military assistance. (artillery firing)
(uptempo music) In 1973, two Soviet client
states, Egypt and Syria, launched a coordinated
surprise attack on Israeli forces in the Sinai and the Golan Heights. Israel ultimately repelled the attacks and regained lost ground, but only after the US made the decision to supply the Israeli military. - [Interviewer] Are you satisfied with the amount of
equipment you're getting from the United States? - I am very happy with what we are getting and very thankful for that. - In 1973, Israel was
defending itself against two Soviet clients. That created an incentive for the United States and
Israel to align more closely. The real pivot came after
the Camp David Agreement - [Speaker] Signed at the White House by the leaders of Egypt,
Israel, and the United States. After decades of mistrust and warfare, it looks as if American diplomacy
has finally made possible a formal peace treaty between
the two old adversaries. - That really created a very different relationship with Israel, a very different American
security commitment to Israel. And it was also the 1970s where Israel went from
being a somewhat partisan, mostly democratic cause, to being a bipartisan national issue. - [Narrator] For decades, US economic aid to Israel helped support
the Israeli economy. But since the rapid expansion of Israel's economy in
the 1990s, US economic aid to Israel began to
gradually phase out in the 21st century. - So there was a shift over
time, agreed to by both sides, where the American assistance to Israel, which had been balanced after the Camp David Agreement
in 1979 between economic and military assistance, became
only military assistance. - [Narrator] Part of America's strategy in the Middle East is ensuring
that Israel maintains a qualitative military
edge over its neighbors. This approach involves
giving Israel first access to or more advanced versions
of US defense technology. It also offsets military
sales to its neighbors with increased weapons packages
or military aid to Israel. - What this means is that when the neighbors
wanna buy a weapon system, the United States oftentimes
of has to arrange to also sell that weapon system to Israel. (artillery fires) - [Narrator] Annual foreign
military financing grants from the US represent about 16% of the Israeli military budget. - So let me share with
you why making sure Israel and Ukraine succeed is vital for America's national security. You know, history has taught us that when terrorists don't
pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a
price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and
death and more destruction. In Israel, we must make sure
that they have what they need to protect their people today and always. - [Narrator] Last year, President Biden requested $14.3 billion in additional assistance to Israel. A $14 billion funding request
would provide an additional $10.6 billion for the Pentagon
to better equip Israel. The US military response to the Hamas attack includes ammunition and interceptors to replenish
Israel's Iron Dome system, which is the bedrock of
the country's defense. - Israel and America are
connected now and forever. - [Narrator] Historically, US aid packages to Israel have faced little
trouble getting through Congress because Israel has long
enjoyed bipartisan support. - Peace requires compromise, but we will never ask Israel to compromise its security. Can't do that.
(audience applauds) - There has been remarkably
strong bipartisan support for aid to Israel, but for
the last five to 10 years, we've seen increasing signs, certainly on the Democratic
side in Congress, that maybe it needs to be qualified. Maybe it needs to be
conditioned in some way. - [Narrator] Despite the
different mood in Congress, it remains likely that
Biden's new security package to Israel will pass the Senate. - Israel has to end the threat of Hamas. Hamas is evil. If Hamas is left to its
own devices, they will do to Israelis everywhere
in Israel what they did to Israelis on the Gaza... along the Gaza Strip, - We're gonna support our
close friend and ally, Israel. - The US has decided that providing aid to Israel is just a fixture
in its foreign policy. One thing that I have talked to officials about in
recent weeks is, you know, "Are there gonna be
conditions at any point? You criticize Israel's actions. So what do you tell them behind the scenes to sort of hold them accountable? Would you withhold military aid?" And the answer I get generally is no. It's not even a question. - [Narrator] For his part,
Senator Sanders intends to continue scrutinizing
the military assistance the US provides to Israel. - Do not count me in to
give another $10 billion to a right-wing extremist
government in Israel. It's a start, but I
can tell you absolutely that there are many more
members of the Senate who are really upset about what is going on in Gaza right now. (uptempo music)
(jet whooshes)
