"Israel has occupied the Gaza Strip and West Bank territories since the Six- Day War of 1967. "

"Immediately after the establishment of the state, the Independence Day Law, 5709-1949 was enacted, fortifying the status of Independence Day as a state holiday and a day of leave. In that period, it seemed, Independence Day was perceived as a national holiday to be celebrated in public. Accordingly, it is proposed that the law prohibit actions tantamount to the marking of Independence Day or the actual establishment of the state as a day of mourning, and that a harsh penalty be imposed on those who exploit the democratic and enlightened character of the State of Israel in order to destabilize it from within. "

"Since 1976, Israel has been the largest annual recipient of U.S. aid and is the largest recipient of cumulative U.S. assistance since World War II.1 From 1949 through 1965, U.S. aid to Israel averaged about $63 million per year, over 95% of which was economic development assistance and food aid. A modest military loan program began in 1959. From 1966 through 1970, average aid per year increased to about $102 million, but military loans increased to about 47% of the total. From 1971 to the present, U.S. aid to Israel has averaged over $2 billion per year, two-thirds of which has been military assistance. Congress first designated a specific amount of aid for Israel (an “earmark”) in 1971. Also in 1971, economic assistance changed from specific programs, such as agricultural development, to the Commodity Import Program (CIP) for purchase of U.S. goods. CIP ended in 1979, replaced by largely unconditional direct transfers for budgetary support. The 1974 emergency aid for Israel, following the 1973 war, included the first military grant aid. Economic aid became all grant cash transfer in 1981. Military aid became all grant in 1985. "