R44245 — Israel: Major Issues and U.S. Relations

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been at war with the Palestinian Sunni Islamist group Hamas (a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, or FTO), which led attacks on that day from the Gaza Strip into Israel. The ongoing conflict and its expansion within the region—most notably between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah (another FTO), and Israel and Iran directly—has had broad implications for U.S. policy in the Middle East. Significant challenges for U.S. officials and lawmakers may include how to bolster Israel’s security from threats posed by Iran-supported actors near its borders, how to prevent the spread of conflict in the region, how to protect and care for civilians displaced or otherwise affected by the fighting, how to help Israel and Hamas reach a cease-fire agreement for Gaza that secures the return of hostages, and how to reconcile Palestinian desires for statehood and post-conflict recovery with Israeli security priorities and political objectives. Over decades, Israel and the United States have forged close relations in many areas. A 10-year bilateral military aid memorandum of understanding commits the United States to provide Israel $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and to spend $500 million annually on joint missile defense programs from FY2019 to FY2028, subject to congressional appropriations. As some U.S.-Israel tensions have surfaced over the Israel-Hamas war, some Members of Congress have increased scrutiny of Israel’s use of U.S. security assistance, contributing to debate on the subject. Action by the incoming Administration and Congress could significantly affect the U.S.-Israel relationship. Israeli domestic politics. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led a coalition government since December 2022, despite facing an ongoing domestic criminal trial for corruption. The presence of ultra-nationalists Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir within the coalition government (which has a 70-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset) has triggered ongoing controversy within Israel. After war with Hamas began in October 2023, Israelis have debated war aims, including how to prioritize the possible elimination or weakening of Hamas alongside efforts to secure the return of hostages in Gaza. Opposition figure and former defense minister Benny Gantz brought his party into the government to help with wartime decisions, but left the government in June 2024, and Netanyahu fired Yoav Gallant as defense minister in November. Polls indicate that Netanyahu’s popularity dropped sharply following the October 7 attacks, and that he may have difficulty retaining his post in the event of another election, but also suggest that Israeli military successes since July 2024 may have boosted his prospects somewhat. An election before late 2026 might only occur if a number of Knesset members from Netanyahu’s pre-war coalition defect, an intra-coalition rift worsens over issues such as military service for Israel’s Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, or the Knesset fails to pass a new budget by the end of March 2025. Direct conflict with Iran. In April and again in October 2024, Iran and Israel exchanged direct attacks. The United States and other partners helped counter the Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel, and the U.S. military has deployed a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to Israel—along with about 100 U.S. troops to operate it—to supplement other movements of U.S. forces to bolster Israel’s defense, deter broader regional conflict, and protect U.S. forces and citizens. Israel’s October strikes reportedly degraded Iran’s air defenses, possibly enabling Israel to target Iranian nuclear program sites or oil facilities if conflict resumes—with uncertain implications for regional stability and proliferation. Hezbollah conflict and cease-fire. Regular exchanges of fire since October 2023 between Hezbollah and Israel escalated into broader conflict in September and October 2024—including with Israeli ground operations in areas over the Lebanese border. Israeli forces have exacted a heavy toll on Hezbollah’s leadership and missile arsenal, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. A November cease-fire seeks to minimize ongoing threats to Israel from Hezbollah and allow the eventual return of displaced persons in both Israel and Lebanon. Israeli-Palestinian tensions in the West Bank. Tensions and violence in the West Bank involving Palestinian militants, Israeli forces, and Israeli settlers—already a major problem before October 2023—have worsened and presented increased risks to Palestinian and Israeli civilians. In response to concerns among U.S. officials and some lawmakers about extremist settler violence against Palestinians, President Joe Biden issued an executive order in February 2024 authorizing financial sanctions and visa bans against parties undermining West Bank stability through violence or other means; the Biden Administration has since imposed sanctions on some settlers (and related entities) and the Palestinian militant group Lions’ Den. Uncertainty surrounds the future of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in terms of its governance and security capabilities, finances, and potential leadership succession, and whether it could serve as an alternative to Hamas in Gaza. International Criminal Court (ICC) action. In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants against top Israeli and Hamas officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, for alleged crimes since October 2023. U.S. officials and some lawmakers decried the warrants against Israeli officials, fueling speculation about possible U.S. action against the ICC.

Curated by CRS — every bill listed in this report's relatedMaterials. Edge type cited_in_report, gold confidence.

• HR 8282 — Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act · 118th Cong
• S 4484 — Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act · 118th Cong
• SJRES 116 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed enhancement or upgrade of · 118th Cong
• SJRES 115 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed license amendment for the · 118th Cong
• SJRES 114 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to · 118th Cong
• SJRES 113 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to · 118th Cong
• SJRES 112 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to · 118th Cong
• SJRES 111 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to · 118th Cong