President Truman (left) was the first world leader to recognize the new state of Israel in 1948.
Israel has flourished as the only true democracy in the Middle East and established itself as America's number one ally in the region since its founding in 1948. Despite being forced to wage a constant struggle for survival, the Jewish state has tirelessly sought peace with its neighbors and emerged as one of the world’s most advanced nations, providing the world with innovations in the fields of technology, medicine and agriculture. Click on the links below to view short background documents highlighting Israel's important achievements and contributions and strong relationship with the United States.
For the past 60 years, Israel has been a sanctuary of democracy and pluralism in a region dominated by authoritarian regimes. Israel is the only country in the Middle East with free elections, a free press, freedom of religion, protection for minority rights and other safeguards typical of a free society. Read more…
Israel has remained committed to making peace throughout its history, repeatedly demonstrating its desire to live side-by-side with the Palestinians and Arab states. Read more...
When Israel was established as a safe haven for the Jewish people in the aftermath of the Holocaust, the new state made it a priority to guarantee freedom of religion for all faiths. Read more...
Like the United States, Israel is a country founded by immigrants. Since its founding, the tiny state has absorbed millions of immigrants from more than 100 countries, including Jews from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia and those forced to flee from Arab countries. Read more…
Before it had even established embassies in many world capitals, Israel sent experts abroad to teach Third World nations such skills as how to upgrade medical facilities, improve schools and coax crops from arid land. Read more…
From the election of Golda Meir as prime minister in 1969 to the role of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni today, women have long held leadership positions in government, important academic posts and served alongside their male counterparts in the defense of the state. Read more…
Israel has become one of the world’s leading incubators of technology. Israel’s high-tech civil innovations have left an important mark on homes, offices and businesses around the world—not to mention the Internet. Read more…
Israel has literally made “the desert bloom,” becoming a source of agricultural and medical innovations that promise a more healthy and abundant future for citizens around the globe. Read more...
In an era of booming populations, shrinking resources, and environmental degradation, Israel leads the world in critical fields such as solar power generation and seawater desalination. Read more…
To combat the threats to both nations, the United States and Israel have worked closely to develop and share innovative technologies and techniques that are protecting American and Israeli lives -- whether on the battlefield or at the mall or airport. Read more…
Since 9/11, the United States and Israel have intensified their homeland security cooperation, with Israel sharing priceless critical information about terrorist organizations with America and working with U.S. government and private entities to develop technologies aimed at thwarting terrorism. Read more…
Israel has emerged as one of America’s premier Middle East trading partners and a leading source of investment opportunities and innovative technologies for U.S. firms and entrepreneurs. Read more…
AIPAC's top backgrounders on the issues that matter most.
In a series of floor speeches, members of Congress are applauding Israel’s 60th anniversary and its many contributions to the world.
Hamas is using longer-range and more destructive rockets to attack Israel. Find out what life is like for Israelis living under fire.
Read an exclusive AIPAC monograph about how Presidents Bush and Clinton reshaped the U.S.-Israel relationship during the past 15 years.
Read AIPAC’s comprehensive guide to the U.S.-Israel relationship and the important challenges facing U.S. Middle East policy.
