The Price of Perpetual War
THE ACTORS: Who is involved in this story? The immediate actors are the Israeli military, carrying out 'overnight attacks' across Gaza, and the Palestinian civilians, including children, who are the casualties. Key political figures include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, alongside President Joe Biden's administration in the United States. International organizations like the
UN and groups like Al Jazeera are reporting on the outcomes, but their influence on the actors remains minimal. THE FUNDING: Where does their money come from? The Israeli military receives substantial financial backing from the United States, formalized through a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2016, which allocates $3.8 billion annually in military aid (Congressional Research
Service, 2019). This aid is largely unrestricted, allowing Israel to purchase advanced weaponry and maintain its military operations. Beyond direct aid, various pro-Israel lobbying groups in the US, like AIPAC (which disclosed spending over $4.2 million in lobbying in 2023 alone, OpenSecrets), exert significant influence on US foreign policy decisions, ensuring this funding stream continues. THE
INCENTIVES: What do they gain from this narrative? For Netanyahu's government, the ongoing conflict provides political stability, often rallying domestic support around national security concerns. It also distracts from internal political challenges and corruption allegations. For segments of the US political establishment, supporting Israel is a bipartisan pillar of foreign policy, often linked