1948 - America Recognizes Israel A quarter-century after Congress's 1922 resolution calling for the establishment of a Jewish homeland, Members of Congress speak out to buttress President Truman's decision to recognize the Jewish State. This begins consistent Congressional support for Israel. 1951 - Aid To Resettle Holocaust Refugees Congress approves the first aid package to Israel, $65 million to help Israel take in Holocaust survivors and endangered Jews from Arab lands. Within 3 years, Israel's 650,000 Jews absorb 600,000 refugees from Europe and the Arab nations.

1955 - Breaking The Ban On Arms To Israel One-third of the House petitions the Eisenhower Administration to break its arms embargo of Israel and sell defensive weapons to the Jewish State. Even with continuing Congressional urging, the embargo does not end until 1962. The United States sells hundreds of millions of dollars in weaponry to Arab states during these years.

1956 - The Sinai Campaign Responding to years of Egyptian provocation, Israeli forces capture most of the Sinai. The Administration threatens UN sanctions if Israel does not with draw. Congressional leaders stand courageously with Israel against the one-sided pressure, as they do consistently throughout Israel's history.

1962 - Congress Supports Direct Negotiations The Administration supports UN condemnation of Israel's retaliation against Syrian attacks on civilians. However, 232 Members of Congress affirm Israel's insistence on direct negotiations with her enemies. The State Department does not adopt this policy until 1979.

1965 - Battling The Arab Boycott Administration opposition weakens the first legislation compelling U.S. companies to reject the Arab boycott of Israel. Continuing Congressional pressure over the years eventually secures passage in 1977 of comprehensive anti-boycott legislation.

1967 - The Six-Day War Egypt's President Nasser leads 6 Arab armies in war against Israel. 365 Members of Congress polled oppose Israeli withdrawal without peace commitments.

1968 - Maintaining Deterrent Strength When the Arab League rejects Israel's peace offer, Congress presses the Administration to sell Phantom jets to Israel. President Johnson recognizes the need for Israel to maintain her deterrent strength in the face of Arab intransigence, and accedes.

1968 - Congress Commits To 'Qualitative Edge' The principle of preserving Israel's "qualitative edge" through military aid and cooperation grows into a firm Congressional commitment over the next 30 years.

1970 -Rogers' Plan Rejected 70 Senators and 280 Representatives reject Secretary of State Rogers' peace plan,
which calls for Israel's unilateral withdrawal without any Arab peace commitments.

1973 - The Yom Kippur War 71 Senators and 269 Representatives expedite a $2.2 billion emergency aid package to Israel, which President Nixon approves. This is the first time the United States provides an outright grant of arms to Israel.

1974 - Congress Asserts Control Of Arms Sales Congress secures authority to block military sales, forcing either the modification or the withdrawal of major arms sales. Over the next 24 years, Administrations modify or with draw billions in arms sales to Arab states, helping to maintain Israel's qualitative edge.

1974 - The Law To "Let Our People Go" 76 Senators and 288 Representatives co-sponsor landmark legislation effectively
denying the Soviet Union trading privileges until it allows its Jewish citizens to emigrate. More than 1 million Jews ultimately emigrate to freedom.

1975 - Congress Contains Arms Sales To Jordan Congressional opposition forces the Administration to agree that Hawk missiles sold to Jordan be placed in concrete silos targeted away from Israel. A decade later, Congressional disapproval persuades the Administration to withdraw an even larger weapons sale to Jordan.

1975 - Ford 'Reassessment' Refuted Israel's refusal to unilaterally withdraw from the Sinai prompts President Ford to call for a reassessment of the U.S.-Israel relationship. 76 Senators reaffirm the special bond.

1979 - Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty For two and a half decades, scores of resolutions, letters, and legislative language
call for direct negotiations in the Middle East. Congress's vision is finally vindicated at Camp David, where peace is achieved through face-to-face talks.

1979 - Aid To Israel Recognizing the risks Israel took for peace at Camp David and the persistence of the Arab military threat, Congress approves a $4.9 billion aid and loan package. From
1985 on, Congress annually provides Israel $3 billion in all grant aid. This assistance evolves into one of the most important symbols of the strength of the U.S.-Israel ties.

1980 - Battling UN Bias From the mid-1970s on, Congress increasingly takes the lead in battling anti-Israel bias in the UN. In scores of resolutions and legislative initiatives, Congress counters threats to expel Israel, challenges the elevation of PLO status, and pressures two Administrations to reject resolutions declaring eastern Jerusalem an occupied territory.

1981 - AWACS Sale To Saudis Despite strong Congressional opposition, AWACS planes are sold to Saudi Arabia. In future years, however, Congressional opposition leads to the withdrawal of arms packages to the desert kingdom, and deters count-less others from even being presented.

1982 - Congress Resists Administration Aid Cut In the wake of the war in Lebanon, the Administration suspends the sale of F-16 planes to Israel and tries to cut aid. The Senate responds by increasing military aid grants by $225 million, sending a strong message of its support for Israel. Congress defeats every successive attempt to tie assistance to Israel to policy differences.

1983 - Strategic Cooperation Endorsed Israel, for 35 years excluded as a strategic U.S. partner for fear of provoking Arab
wrath, is finally recognized as a strategic asset in a landmark Memorandum of Understanding. In future years, Congress expands this relationship-from recognizing Israel as a major non-NATO ally to funding an array of U.S.-Israel joint research and defense programs in the anti-ballistic missile arena.

1984 - Turning The Tide On Terror After a decade and a half of unmitigated PLO horror, Congress passes legislation that precludes dialogue with the PLO unless and until the PLO renounces terrorism. In future initiatives, Congress acts to close the PLO office, denies Arafat an American visa, provides the United States with the legal authority to prosecute terrorists, and restricts U.S. dealings with nations supporting terror.

1985 - Emergency Economic Aid 400% inflation and spiraling debt accrued over 5 wars brings Israel to economic
crisis. Congress approves a $1.5 billion emergency aid package, restoring order to Israel. Within a decade, Israel develops into one of world's strongest emerging economies. Precedent-Setting Free Trade Agreement Congress overwhelmingly approves the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement. The first such treaty between
America and another nation, it provides the impetus for explosive growth in trade and investment and sets a precedent for future agreements between the United States and other nations. Congress Condemns Zionism = Racism Resolution. Of the hundreds of UN resolutions attacking Israel, none is as obscene as the1975 resolution equating Zionism with racism. In one of many measures, Congress passes legislation condemning the UN resolution.

1987 - Joint R&D Against Missiles In a far-reaching joint research and development program with Israel, Congress
provides funding for the Arrow anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system, the first such system to be successfully tested. Israel eventually becomes America's most important partner in ABM cooperation.

1989 - Insistence On PLO Compliance When Arafat claims to renounce terrorism in a speech to the UN in Geneva, Congress insists that PLO deeds must match his words. This process for monitoring and reporting PLO actions becomes the basis for U.S. dealings with the PLO.

1989 - Peace Not Pressure 95 Senators resist intense Administration pressure for unilateral Israeli concessions
and urge Secretary of State Baker to support Israel's peace efforts.

1991 - Emergency Military Assistance Israel endures 39 Iraqi missile attacks during the Gulf War without retaliating. Congress approves $650 million in emergency assistance to Israel.

1992 - Landmark Loan Guarantees Congress approves $10 billion in loan guarantees to lighten Israel's extraordinary
financial strain of resettling 600,000 refugees from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia. In the process, Congress fights Administration efforts to link this humanitarian effort to a halt in West Bank construction. Reining Rogue Nations
Landmark legislation authorizes sanctions on companies that provide either Iran or Iraq with the technology to develop unconventional warfare systems. The containment of dangerous despots becomes a Congressional priority.

1993 - Oslo Peace Accords Congress praises the Israeli-Palestinian agreement and links Palestinian aid and
diplomatic relations to fulfillment of their peace commitments.

1993 - US-Israel Science & Technology Commission This bi-national commission encourages development of a U.S.-Israel technological base for the 21st century. Coupled with similar programs in agriculture and applied sciences, U.S.-Israel joint efforts now top hundreds a year.

1995 - Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act A decade after its first hearings on the issue, Congress passes legislation recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and calling for the American Embassy's relocation. Administration implementation requires continuing Congressional pressure.

1996 - Untying The Russia-Iran Knot Congress moves to sanction foreign countries that invest in Iran's energy sector, or
sell Iran nuclear or missile technology. Joining Israel In The Fight Against Terror Congress agrees to provide $100 million in anti-terrorism assistance to Israel. Members of Congress also signed letters urging the Palestinian Authority to take more serious steps against terrorism.

1998 - Israel's Golden Anniversary Congress celebrates 50 years of U.S.-Israel friendship.