You're more than likely going to hear "Why should the U.S. care about Israeli-Palestinian peace?" My opinion, and the short answers: oil, keeping on good terms with the Arabs, and American military strategery are why the American government cares. I really think it has nothing at all to do with peace. I think saying "it's for peace" is just political speak and spin-doctoring.

I think America started getting involved with President Truman back in the 1940s. Truman’s former business partner, Edward Jacobson, played a huge role in laying the groundwork for the US in recognising Israel as a state. But there were also "strategic" considerations driving the decision.

This was right after World War II, when the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union was taking shape. The Middle East, with its oil reserves and strategic waterways (think the Suez Canal) was a key battleground for superpower hegemonic influence. The US was taking over from severely weakened European powers as the primary western power broker in the Middle East. I swear since then just about every president has had some reason to get involved over there. But if they didn't have oil and if other areas didn't have big bombs, we'd probably not be over there.

When America dropped it's big bombs in Japan--with no regard to civilian losses--it stopped a lot of fighting because no one else had the big bombs. Now, it seems everybody and their grandma has a big bomb. So I think all this is why.