How good a friend is Israel?

The relationship between Israel and America has developed, both in depth and dimension, although with twist and turns on occasions, over the years. Israel is the only Jewish state in the Muslim dominated Middle East. And Israel is the only country which does not possess any natural or mineral resource. Except Jordan, other countries in the Middle East have been endowed with huge natural resources like gas and oil.

Israel has been recipient of American aid, both economic and military, since its birth. From the 1970s, Israel is on top of the list of recipient countries in the world for financial aid from America. Taxpayers from America have contributed over $140 billion in aid to Israel since 1976. Presently Israel receives $5 billion in economic and military aid. The result has been political suicide for America.

According to a research paper by Professor John J. Mearsheimer of Chicago University and Professor Stephen M. Watt of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government: "Israel is the only recipient that does not have to account for how the aid is spent, an exemption that makes it virtually impossible to prevent the money being used for purposes that United States opposes, like building settlements in the West Bank."

In the past decades Israel and America have expanded collaboration on defence and intelligence issues. The Economist of October 6, 2001 stated: "Arabs hold the view that the American support has been one-sided and excessive. America has succoured Israel financially, armed it to the hilt, encouraged its expansion and turned a blind eye to the pleas of its down-trodden victims, the Palestinians."

But the other side of the coin is that Israel is not a loyal ally, although Bush administration, somehow or other, considers it America's client state in the Middle East.

According to US accounting office, Israel conducts the most aggressive espionage operations against the United States.

One of the most noteworthy convicted Israeli spies is Jonathan Pollard, a US navy civilian analyst, who provided Israel with large quantities of classified material in the early 1980s.

Then, in 1985, Richard Smyth was indicted in California for illegally exporting 800 krytons to an Israeli company. Krytons are high speed electronics switches that can be used to detonate nuclear weapons.

Larry Franklin is a former Defence Intelligence Agency analyst who was accused of espionage for Israel in 2005, in which he was allegedly aided by two AIPAC (America-Israel Public Affairs Council) officials. AIPAC is the powerful lobby group for Israel in America.

Fox News of December 11, 2001 gave a graphic picture of the role of an Israeli spy in the events leading to the destruction of the World Trade Centres and Pentagon in September 2001.

Another example of withholding intelligence information from its biggest benefactor (America) which could have saved many lives, was on the bombing of American Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983.

In June 1967, Israel attacked the USS Liberty (America's most sophisticated intelligence gathering ship) in international waters -- 34 Americans were slaughtered and 172 wounded. Liberty Veterans Association described the attack on the back of America as a diabolic attempt at deception.

In a letter to President Bush, association president Phillip F. Tourney wrote: "Israel's premeditated, sneak attack on the USS Liberty was a direct attack on America. I respectfully request that you commission a presidential panel to finally investigate the attack and cover-up of the USS Liberty, and report the truth to American people." This investigation was not done by any American government as of now.

There is no denying the fact that national interests of Israel and the United States cannot always be the same as claimed by the pro-Israel lobby. Citing historical data, the two respected academicians, John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Watt, have argued that the unwavering US support to Israel has actually harmed American national interests and security. They contend that this situation has no equal in American history.

Some in America question the level of aid and general commitment to Israel to the detriment of America's interests, and argue that American bias toward Israel operates at the expense of America's relations with various Arab and Muslim countries. Pro-Israel group maintains that democratic Israel is a strategic ally, and that America's relations with Israel strengthens American presence in the Middle East.

In reality, America doesn't get any benefit from Israel. The relationship between Israel and America is one of strange bed-fellows to say the least. Lopsided support by Bush administration toward Israel will bring about further bitter relations with Muslim countries in future.

Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a former Bangladesh diploma, resides in Virginia.