Even the British support of the establishment of a Jewish national home was not free. The price had already been paid during WWI:

http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/us_recognition_of_israel/us_recognition_of_israel.html

Excerpt:

"In 1917 Chaim Weizmann, scientist, statesperson, and Zionist, persuaded the British government to issue a statement favoring the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine. The statement, which became known as the Balfour Declaration, was, in part, payment to the Jews for their support of the British against the Turks during World War I...."

It's interesting how TWO autonomous states were supposed to be created, but the 2nd has still to manifest...

Tracy

>>It seems Israel get support from the US without conditions attached (unless the support is conditional on their continued purchase of weapons from the US).
>
>Actually, I'm not at convinced that we should even be involved over there. That really wasn't my point. My point was that any time someone wants support from another person/country/business/whatever, that there are usually strings attached to that support. From that perspective, I >do< think it's pretty black and white. Yes, I even think there are strings attached to our support of Israel. Those strings might be as simple as promised future support in whatever might happen in that area of the world, but they ARE strings.