The U.S. government's unwavering support for Israel has been a cornerstone of American foreign policy for decades, both in terms of military and economic aid. Yet, as Israel's expansion of settlements in the West Bank continues, a growing debate surrounds whether it's time for the U.S. to reconsider its funding to Israel.

Proponents of decreasing funding for Israel argue that it's time for the U.S. to flex its diplomatic muscle. They contend that by leveraging its financial support, the U.S. can pressure Israel into ceasing settlement expansion and restarting negotiations with the Palestinians. The settlements are seen as a significant roadblock to the two-state solution, a policy that most countries including the U.S. officially endorses. Critics of the settlements also argue that this construction fuels resentment and violence among Palestinians and undermines human rights and international law – values the U.S. holds dear.

On the opposing side, those against a reduction in funding believe that Israel remains the U.S.'s closest ally in the region. They emphasize the common ground shared by both nations in terms of democratic values and strategic interests. Cutting aid, they claim, would compromise Israel's security and act as a deterrent, potentially emboldening its adversaries like Iran and Hamas, who openly seek Israel's destruction and commit horrendous terrorist acts such as what happened on October 7th, 2023. They point out that the primary obstacle to peace is not the settlements, but rather the Palestinian refusal to acknowledge Israel's right to exist and to renounce terrorism. Furthermore, there's a legal obligation tied to U.S. military assistance to Israel, as laid out in a 10-year memorandum of understanding signed in 2016.

The question for debate is, should the U.S. government decrease funding for Israel if there is continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank?