Israel and the United States have shared a special bond since the establishment of the modern Jewish state in 1948. Since President Harry Truman provided Israel with critical international legitimacy by recognizing the state a mere 11 minutes after its establishment, American presidents and lawmakers from both parties have continued to stand by Israel, a fellow democracy and America's closest ally in the Middle East. The two countries have developed a resilient friendship - based on shared values and interests - that transcends which political parties are in power either in Washington or Jerusalem.