WILLIAM HARTUNG, hartung@quincyinst.org,
Hartung is senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and is co-author of a new report from the Brown University’s Costs of War project.
Common Dreams notes: “The new report comes less than two weeks after Israel secured yet another U.S. armed aid package, this one worth $8.7 billion. Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it faced a nearly $9 billion shortfall for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.”
Hartung said today that while the “human costs of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon are heart wrenching,” the billions of tax dollars subsidizing Israel also need to be examined. The report finds: “U.S. spending on Israel’s military operations and related U.S operations in the region total at least $22.76 billion and counting. This estimate is conservative. …
“This figure includes the $17.9 billion the U.S. government has approved in security assistance for Israeli military operations in Gaza and elsewhere since October 7 — substantially more than in any other year since the U.S. began granting military aid to Israel in 1959. Yet the report describes how this is only a partial amount of the U.S. financial support provided during this war.
“Related U.S. military operations in the broader region since October 7 are part of the fuller picture. In particular, the U.S. Navy has significantly scaled up its defensive and offensive operations against Houthi militants in Yemen. …
“This Houthi-related conflict has also cost the maritime trade an additional $2.1 billion, because shippers have been forced to divert vessels or pay exorbitant insurance fees. U.S. consumers may experience paying higher prices for goods as a result.
“This report touches on the relationship between U.S. weapons manufacturers and the Israeli government, which have maintained longstanding commercial relations. The U.S. government has cited these commercial ties as one of the reasons why the U.S. should continue to supply foreign militaries, including the Israeli military, with weapons and equipment.”
Hartung also highlights F-16 sales to Israel which will likely be paid for, at least in part, from future aid packages to Israel. This sale is being challenged by Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), Sen. Jeff Merkely (D-OR) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Hartung adds an additional “indirect cost of current U.S. policy could flow from the recent designation of the UAE as a ‘major defense partner’ of the United States, a move that will no doubt open the door to more arms sales and military collaboration with that nation.”