U.S. Sends Billions to Israel—and to Countries That Don't Recognize Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Obama today, and the two talked about the need to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. The prime minister of Israel and the president of the United States have generally enjoyed close relations, regardless of who holds the office, since the State of Israel declared independence in 1948.

In fact, American recognition of the controversial declaration helped Israel build legitimacy as a state. To this day, about 31 countries don't formally recognize the State of Israel. Iran's one of them, and we may not give them any money, but while we spend $3.1 billion a year on aid to Israel we also spend $4.1 billion on aid to countries that don't formally recognize Israel.

Reason infographic

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