President Joe Biden is requesting that Congress provide $14.3 billion in additional foreign aid for Israel, as that country begins its invasion of Gaza with the goal of destroying Hamas.
The emergency request further entrenches Israel as the the largest single recipient, by far, of U.S. financial assistance since the end of World War II. According to online tracker USA Facts, the United States has provided nearly $320 billion in total aid, in inflation-adjusted dollars, to Israel since 1946.
That’s over $130 billion more than next largest recipient – Vietnam – which has received $184.5 billion.
Egypt ($182.3 billion), Afghanistan ($160.9 billion) and South Korea ($119.9 billion) round out America’s top 5 foreign aid recipients.
Beyond the most recent funding request, Israel is currently receiving annual military aid from the U.S. as part of the 10-year, $38 billion Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2016. The MOU supports updating the Israeli aircraft fleet and maintaining the country’s missile defense system. The agreement commits $500 million in missile defense funding and $3.3 billion in other military funding each year from 2019 to 2028.
Read more at USA Facts
