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Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress
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On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel declared its independence and was immediately engaged in awar with all of its neighbors. Armed conflict has marked every decade of Israel’s existence.Despite its unstable regional environment, Israel has developed a vibrant parliamentarydemocracy, albeit with relatively fragile governments. Early national elections were held onFebruary 10, 2009. Although the Kadima Party placed first, parties holding 65 seats in the 120-seat Knesset supported opposition Likud party leader Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, whomPresident Shimon Peres designated to form a government. Netanyahu put together a coalitioncomprising his own Likud,
Yisrael Beitenu
(Israel Our Home), Shas, Labor,
 Habayet Hayehudi
 (Jewish Home), and the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) parties, which controls 74 Knesset seats.Israel has an advanced industrial, market economy with a large government role.Israel’s foreign policy is focused largely on its region, Europe, and the United States. Israel’sforeign policy agenda begins with Iran, which it views as an existential threat due to its nuclearambitions and support for anti-Israel terrorists. Achieving peace with its neighbors is next. Israelconcluded peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994, but not with Syria and Lebanon.Israel unilaterally withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000. Hezbollah, which then took over thesouth, sparked a 34-day war when it kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in July 12, 2006. A cease-firemonitored by an enhanced United Nations Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is holding. Israelnegotiated a series of agreements with the Palestinians in the 1990s, but that process ended in2000. It resumed talks with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in June 2007, afterPalestinian Authority (PA) President and PLO Chairman Mahmud Abbas dissolved an Hamas-ledunity government in response to the group’s takeover of the Gaza Strip. The November 2007Annapolis Conference officially welcomed the renewed negotiations and anticipated acomprehensive peace agreement by the end of 2008, but talks progressed slowly and domesticpolitical turmoil in both Israel and the PA impeded a conclusion. Prime Minister Netanyahu hasnot expressed support for a two-state solution—the goal of negotiations thus far.Since 1948, the United States and Israel have developed a close friendship based on commondemocratic values, religious affinities, and security interests. U.S.-Israeli bilateral relations aremultidimensional. The United States is the principal proponent of the Arab-Israeli peace process,but U.S. and Israeli views differ on some issues, such as the Golan Heights, Jerusalem, andsettlements. Israel and the Bush Administration enjoyed particularly close relations. The BushAdministration and Congress supported Israel’s 2006 military campaigns against Hezbollah andHamas and its 2008/2009 offensive against Hamas as acts of self-defense. Shortly after takingoffice in January 2009, President Obama stated that he considers Israel to be a strong ally of theUnited States. The United States and Israel concluded a free-trade agreement in 1985. Israel is aprominent recipient of U.S. foreign aid. The two countries also have close security relations.Other issues in U.S.-Israeli relations include Israel’s military sales, inadequate Israeli protectionof U.S. intellectual property, and espionage-related cases. This report will be updated asdevelopments warrant. See also CRS Report RL33530,
 Israeli-Arab Negotiations: Background,Conflicts, and U.S. Policy
, by Carol Migdalovitz, and CRS Report RL33222,
U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel
, by Jeremy M. Sharp.
 
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Most Recent Developments.............................................................................................................1
 
Domestic Politics......................................................................................................................1
 
Election Results and Analysis...................................................................................................2
 
Government Formation.............................................................................................................3
 
New Government......................................................................................................................4
 
Peace Process with the Palestinians..........................................................................................5
 
Iran............................................................................................................................................5
 
U.S. Policy................................................................................................................................7
 
Historical Overview of Israel..........................................................................................................7
 
Government and Politics.................................................................................................................8
 
Overview...................................................................................................................................8
 
Political Developments since 2005...........................................................................................8
 
Government and Politics.........................................................................................................10
 
War and Repercussions...........................................................................................................10
 
Effects of Renewed Peace Process...........................................................................................11
 
Scandals and Political Change................................................................................................12
 
Economy........................................................................................................................................12
 
Overview.................................................................................................................................12
 
Current Situation.....................................................................................................................13
 
Foreign Policy...............................................................................................................................14
 
Middle East.............................................................................................................................14
 
Iran....................................................................................................................................14
 
Palestinian Authority.........................................................................................................17
 
Egypt ................................................................................................................................18
 
Jordan................................................................................................................................20
 
Syria..................................................................................................................................21
 
Lebanon............................................................................................................................23
 
Iraq....................................................................................................................................23
 
Other.................................................................................................................................24
 
European Union......................................................................................................................25
 
Relations with the United States....................................................................................................26
 
Overview.................................................................................................................................26
 
Issues.......................................................................................................................................26
 
Peace Process..........................................................................................................................26
 
Settlements........................................................................................................................27
 
Jerusalem..........................................................................................................................27
 
Syrian Talks......................................................................................................................28
 
Democratization Policy.....................................................................................................28
 
Trade and Investment........................................................................................................28
 
Energy Cooperation..........................................................................................................29
 
Aid ...................................................................................................................................29
 
Security Cooperation........................................................................................................30
 
Other Issues.............................................................................................................................33
 
Military Sales....................................................................................................................33
 
Espionage-Related Cases..................................................................................................34
 
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