American “aid” to Israel—orchestrated by the U.S. Jewish lobby’s control over the government—has totaled at least $113.61 billion ($113,610,000,000) since the year 2000, an analysis of publicly available figures has shown.
According to statistics compiled from the Congressional Research Service (CRS), USAFacts, and the Council on Foreign Relations, aid to Israel is divided into two categories:
– Military Aid: Includes Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grants and missile defense funding (e.g., Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow);
and
– Economic Aid: Includes “humanitarian,” “resettlement,” and “development assistance.”
Since October 7, 2023, significant supplemental military aid has been allocated due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
During the period 2000–2007, Israel received $3 billion annually in total aid, with a mix of military and economic assistance.
Military Aid during this time period averaged ~$2.4 billion per year, primarily through FMF grants, with additional funds for joint defense projects (e.g., Arrow missile development). Over 86% of aid since 2000 has been military-focused.
Military Aid during this time period averaged ~$2.4 billion per year, primarily through FMF grants, with additional funds for joint defense projects (e.g., Arrow missile development). Over 86% of aid since 2000 has been military-focused.
“Economic Aid” averaged ~$600 million per year, supporting debt repayment and development.
The total for the 2000–2007 period is therefore:
– Military aid: ~$2.4 billion × 8 = $19.2 billion
– Economic aid: ~$600 million × 8 = $4.8 billion
– Subtotal: $24 billion
In 2006, Israel and the U.S. Government signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” (MOU) which regulated “aid” to Israel for the 2008–2018 period.
The full text of this MOU has never been released, and only a “summary” has ever been made public.
Under the 2006 MOU “summary,” the U.S. committed to $30 billion over 10 years, averaging $3 billion annually, nearly all military aid.
The total for the 2008–2018 11-year period was therefore:
– Military aid: $3 billion × 11 = $33 billion
– Economic aid: ~$50 million total = $0.05 billion
– Subtotal: $33.05 billion
In 2016, Israel and the U.S. Government signed a further MOU, specifying American “aid” to the Jewish state for the period 2019–2024.
As with the 2006 MOU, the full text of the 2016 MOU has never been made public, and only “summaries” have ever been released.
The 2016 MOU committed $38 billion over 10 years (FY 2019–2028), or $3.8 billion annually ($3.3 billion FMF + $500 million missile defense).
In terms of the 2016 MOU, American taxpayer handouts to Israel are:
– Regular aid for 6 years (2019–2024): $3.8 billion × 6 = $22.8 billion;
– Military Aid: Consists of $3.8 billion per year, with additional supplemental aid since October 7, 2023;
– Supplemental aid (2023–2024): A Brown University Costs of War report estimates $17.9 billion in military aid from October 7, 2023, to September 30, 2024, including $12.5 billion enacted ($3.8 billion in March 2024, $8.7 billion in April 2024) and additional transfers/drawdowns.
The total for 2019–2024 (6 years) is therefore as follows:
– Military aid: $22.8 billion + $17.9 billion = $40.7 billion
– Economic aid: ~$60 million = $0.06 billion
– Subtotal: $40.76 billion
Additional proposed or approved aid in 2025 (e.g., $4 billion expedited aid in March 2025, $8 billion arms sale in January 2025) is not included in the 2000–2024 total. This is an additional amount of $12 billion.
Assuming the 2016 MOU continues without additional supplemental aid, FY2025 aid is expected to be $3.8 billion (all military, $3.3 billion FMF + $500 million missile defense).
In total, the aid to Israel for the period 2000–2025 is made up as follows:
Military Aid:
$19.2 billion (2000–2007)
$33 billion (2008–2018)
$40.7 billion (2019–2024)
$3.8 billion (2025)
$12 billion (January-February 2025)
Subtotal: $108.7 billion
Economic Aid:
$4.8 billion (2000–2007)
$0.05 billion (2008–2018)
$0.06 billion (2019–2024)
Subtotal: $4.91 billion
Grand total: $113.61 billion.
In inflation-adjusted dollars (2022 dollars), total U.S. aid to Israel from 1951–2022 is estimated at $317.9 billion, with $225.2 billion (71%) in military aid.
* Part of the “economic aid” listed above goes to official “refugee resettlement” and medical aid schemes in Israel.
“Refugee resettlement” refers to direct financial assistance provided by the U.S. to support the integration of Jewish immigrants (Olim) into Israeli society. In other words, U.S. taxpayers pay for Jews to move to Israel.
This money is transferred to organizations like the United Israel Appeal (UIA) or the Jewish Agency for Israel, which “resettle” Jews from regions like the former Soviet Union.
Since 1973, the U.S. has provided approximately $1.7 billion for refugee resettlement in Israel. Funds are administered by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM).
They support “housing, language training, job placement, and social integration for immigrants,” aligning with Israel’s Law of Return, which grants citizenship to Jews only.
In addition, the “American Schools and Hospitals Abroad” (ASHA) program, provides grants to U.S.-sponsored institutions abroad to strengthen educational and medical facilities that “serve local communities and promote U.S. values.”
In Israel, ASHA grants support hospitals, universities, and schools, such as Hadassah Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, or the Weizmann Institute of Science, enhancing their infrastructure, equipment, or programs.
Since 1957, ASHA has provided approximately $178 million to institutions in Israel. From 2000 to 2024, annual ASHA grants to Israel are estimated at $1–5 million, totaling ~$50 million over the period. For example, in FY 2023, ASHA allocated $2.5 million to Hadassah Medical Center for medical equipment upgrades.
In 2020, Israel was among the “top 20 economies in the world” based on its per capita GDP.
That year, Israel’s GDP per capita – a country’s total value of goods and services produced divided by the total population – was $52,200.
By comparison, Canada’s GDP per capita was $52,400 and the U.S.’ was around $70,200.
* It is often claimed, particularly on social media, that Israel has a “free” national healthcare service and has “free” college tuition, all funded by U.S. aid.
This claim is not completely accurate, as the healthcare system is partly generated by taxation within Israel, and there is no direct U.S. aid to college tuition.
However, it can be strongly argued that the huge aid budget granted to Israel every year allows the Jews-only state to allocate budgets to healthcare and colleges which otherwise would be used up in killing Palestinians and fighting wars.
In that sense, therefore, there is at least a grain of truth to the overall allegation that U.S. taxpayers directly subsidize Israeli society.
