FOREIGN
RELATIONS
In addition
to seeking an end to hostilities with Arab forces, against which
it has fought five wars since 1948, Israel has given high priority
to gaining wide acceptance as a sovereign state with an important
international role.
Before 1967, it had established diplomatic
relations with a majority of the world's nations, except for the
Arab states and most other Muslim countries. The Soviet Union
and the communist states of eastern Europe (except Romania) broke
diplomatic relations with Israel during the 1967 war, but those
relations were restored by 1991.
The landmark October 1991 Madrid conference recognized the importance of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 in resolving regional disputes, and brought together for the first time Israel, the Palestinians, and the neighboring Arab countries, launching a series of direct bilateral and multilateral negotiations. These talks were designed to finally resolve outstanding security, border, and other issues between the parties while providing a basis for mutual cooperation on issues of general concern, including the status of refugees, arms control and regional security, water and environmental concerns, and economic development.
Today, Israel has diplomatic relations with 161 states. Following the signing of the Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on September 13, 1993, Israel established or renewed diplomatic relations with 36 countries. Israel has full diplomatic relations with Egypt, Jordan, and Mauritania. In addition, on October 1, 1994, the Gulf States publicly announced their support for a review of the Arab boycott, in effect abolishing the secondary and tertiary boycotts against Israel.
Israel has diplomatic relations with nine non-Arab Muslim states and with 32 of the 43 Sub-Saharan states that are not members of the Arab League. Israel established relations with China and India in 1992 and with the Holy See in 1993.
DEFENSE
Israel's ground, air, and naval forces, known as the Israel Defense Force (IDF), fall under the command of a single general staff. Conscription is universal for Jewish men and women over the age of 18, although exemptions may be made on religious grounds. Druze, members of a small Islamic offshoot living in Israel's mountains, also serve in the IDF. Israeli Arabs, with the exception of some Bedouins, do not serve. During 1950-66, Israel spent an average of 9% of GDP on defense. Real defense expenditures increased dramatically after both the 1967 and 1973 wars. Military spending in 2005 totaled $9.45 billion, which is equivalent to 7.7% of GDP, and represents 16.3% of government expenditures. The United States provides approximately $2.4 billion per year in security assistance.
In 1983,
the United States and Israel established the Joint Political Military
Group, which meets twice a year. Both the U.S. and Israel participate
in joint military planning and combined exercises, and have collaborated
on military research and weapons development.
U.S.-ISRAELI
RELATIONS
Commitment to Israel's security and well being has been a cornerstone
of U.S. policy in the Middle East since Israel's creation in 1948,
in which the United States played a key supporting role. Israel
and the United States are bound closely by historic and cultural
ties as well as by mutual interests. Continuing U.S. economic
and security assistance to Israel acknowledges these ties and
signals U.S. commitment. The broad issues of Arab-Israeli peace
have been a major focus in the U.S.-Israeli relationship. U.S.
efforts to reach a Middle East peace settlement are based on UN
Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and have been based on
the premise that as Israel takes calculated risks for peace, the
United States will help minimize those risks.
On a bilateral level, relations between the United States and Israel are continually strengthening in every field. In addition to the Joint Political-Military Group described above, there are: bilateral science and technology efforts (including the Binational Science Foundation and the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Foundation); the U.S.-Israeli Education Foundation, which sponsors educational and cultural programs; the Joint Economic Development Group, which maintains a high-level dialogue on economic issues; the Joint Counterterrorism Group, designed to enhance cooperation in fighting terrorism; and a high-level Strategic Dialogue that meets biannually.
Principal U.S. Officials
U.S. Embassy
Ambassador--Richard H. Jones
Deputy Chief of Mission--Luis Moreno
Political Affairs--Marc Sievers
Economic Affairs--William Weinstein
Management-- Brent Bohne
Consular Affairs--Richard Beer
The U.S. Embassy in Israel is located at 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv (tel. 03-519-7575).
