U.S. Sends Billions to Israel—and to Countries That Don't Recognize Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with
President Obama today, and the two talked about the need to
keep Iran
from getting a nuclear weapon.  The prime minister of
Israel and the president of the United States have generally
enjoyed close relations, regardless of who holds the office, since
the State of Israel declared independence in 1948. 

In fact, American recognition of the controversial declaration
helped Israel build legitimacy as a state. To this day, about 31
countries don’t formally recognize the State of Israel. Iran’s one
of them, and we may not give them any money, but while we spend
$3.1 billion a year on aid to Israel we also spend $4.1 billion on
aid to countries that don’t formally recognize Israel.