* Jews are a historically hated group, so maybe there's a swing back the other direction
* There is a connection between Judaism and Christianity (they basically share the old testament), and so I could see large amounts of religious support. Of course you also have antisemitic religious, so there's that
* We are allied with them, and they are in the middle east, is it possible that is also a strategical reason
I'm sure there's more, but also consider that support is not exactly universal among Americans:
> As of July 2006, a poll claimed that 44% of Americans thought that the "United States supports Israel about the right amount", 11% thought "too little", and 38% thought "too much" [1]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93United_States_r...
More broadly, Israel is an advanced democracy and technological jewel with which we have a close economic, military and political alliance. You stick with your friends through the bad times.
You mean like Canada and the EU?
0. https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-10-24/why-american-evangeli...
1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/05/14/h...
Some examples:
Benjamin Franklin proposed that the scene of the Exodus (Israelites passing through the sea) be made the official insignia of the United States[0].
"Moses standing on the Shore, and extending his Hand over the Sea, thereby causing the same to overwhelm Pharaoh who is sitting in an open Chariot, a Crown on his Head and a Sword in his Hand. Rays from a Pillar of Fire in the Clouds reaching to Moses, to express that he acts by Command of the Deity."
He suggested the national motto be, "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God."
The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, preserved to this day, is inscribed with a passage from the Torah, the book of Leviticus[1]:
"Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof"
[0]: https://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Today-in-History-Benjam...
Who else are you going to support in the middle east? Iran? Turkey? Syria?
Palestine would be a state a long time ago if they didn't have such criminal leadership.
The very first day of the state of Israel, May 14th 1948, Israel was invaded[0] by six Arab nations (Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.) Plus, volunteer units from Sudan, the Muslim Brotherhood, Pakistan, and the Holy War Army.
It's remarkable that the nascent state of Israel survived.
And again in 1967[1], Israel was attacked by 13 nations. Despite being outnumbered 264k to 547k, they not only won but gained territory, including Jerusalem, Sinai, and the Golan Heights.
And again in 1973, Israel was invaded by several nations[2], outnumbered by over 3 to 1 in total troop deployment.
This combined with the fact that Israel is the world's only Jewish state, founded by people who survived the Holocaust or had witnessed it first-hand, founding the state of Israel just 3 years after the end of World War II. It's remarkable for a people who make up a tiny portion of the world's population. It's remarkable that Jews exist today. It's remarkable that Israel exists today.
So yes, underdogs indeed.
[0}: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_War
For most of their existence their much larger Arab neighbors (who had the backing of a superpower) had the explicit and oft-stated goal of destroying Israel. Those weren't idle threats: several wars were fought under that banner, one of which was almost successful.
While they currently have a somewhat more secure position, due to peace treaties. They remain unpopular, and a governmental change or revolution could easily put them under intense threat again.
The real question is why does the world take such a myopic and shallow view of Israel? Again Israel is forced to do what it must by its enemies. This is a perspective that is ignored by much of the world.
Two articles from different political positions:
https://www.city-journal.org/html/why-don%E2%80%99t-jews-chr...
https://www.vox.com/2017/12/12/16761540/jerusalem-israel-emb...
2) Islam and Americhristianity are perennial enemies so Judaism is the enemy of Our enemy
3) Israelis in particular have kinship with American aggressive bluster and belief in self-determination against adversity
Why shouldn't the US support Israel?
(Edit: No one ever explains it. They just downvote the question.)
They believe the Palistinians are mistreated by Isreal. The USA has a (selective) history of not supporting oppressive regimes and there seems to be some hypocrisy here.
That said, no one in that conflict is on the side of the angels. The Palestinians bomb a pizzaria, so the Israeli army cracks down with mass arrests and shootings at the border. Lather, rinse, repeat.