Who Knew Israel's 'Self-Defense' Included Five Countries and The High Seas?
Al Jazeera's animated map, "All the countries Israel attacked in 2025," meticulously charts Israeli military actions across Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Qatar, Yemen, and even maritime waters. It's a stark visual of an incredibly active regional player. What the map quietly omits, however, is the financial bedrock enabling such widespread military endeavors: consistent, bipartisan U.S.
military aid, often facilitated by organizations like AIPAC. For context, consider that since 1948, the U.S. has sent over $200 billion (adjusted for inflation) to Israel. In 2023 alone, according to OpenSecrets.org, AIPAC and its supporters poured over $10 million into U.S. congressional races. Many of those who received significant contributions then voted overwhelmingly for packages like the
$14 billion in supplementary aid for Israel enacted in early 2024. One might wonder if these 'defensive' actions spanning multiple nations are not just sovereign policy, but also a direct return on decades of American investment and unwavering political cover.