UNITED STATES AGENDA IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE DISPUTE THROUGH MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL UNDER OBAMA ADMINISTRATION (2008-2016)

Abstract

The conflict between Israel and Palestine had been started decades ago, creating the balance of power between the one who against Israel and the one who supports them, with no exception of United States which becoming the fanatic supporter of Israel. The emergence of Barack Obama as the new leader of United States, with the vision of upholding the international peace and security brings hope to the international stage upon the decision he will make to encounter the dispute between Israel and Palestine. The United States, as the one last hope under Obama administration should deal with the conflict between Israel and Palestine but still keeping in mind that Israel is their only ally in the Middle East. Seeing the hope that relies to the United States, Obama administration focused its foreign policy to hold back any impulsive action to what it referred to the predecessor administration, including to limiting the military intervention or military action to be taken in the foreign policy. Having said that, the world surprised when noticed the United States has given the tremendous amount of military aid, or Foreign Military Financing (FMF), as the form of foreign aid under their country policy, to Israel with the amount reached US$38.6 billion in total. Under note to this fact, the Obama administration vision to uphold the international peace and security started to be questioned, by the decision they have made for Israel in the very first place. This research, further, aim to analyze the agenda behind United States decision to give military aid to Israel focusing on Barack Obama’s term within the condition of dispute between Israel and Palestine. The analysis also supported by military diplomacy concept and neorealism theory in explaining the United States decision to support Israel within the dispute, by giving tremendous military aid to Israel. Further, this research resulted the reason behind United States military aid to Israel is concerned to achieved their security interest.