Slop.

Isreal is the US's stronghold in the Middle East. It allows the US military to have North Africa, the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and so on all within striking distance of its aircraft. With this wide area of influence, the US can control shipping lanes, airspace, and natural resources in the region. Most of these resources are funneled into Europe (oil, heroin, lithium, cobalt, water, etc.). Western European capitalists can then rake in huge profits because nobody in the region can stop the US from stealing their shit.

Isreal exists so the Imperial Core doesn't have to do a D-Day/Normandy -style invasion anytime a group of people gets the idea to keep their nation's resources for themselves. They can squash any potential revolutions or labor movements without having to spend more resources than necessary.

Because of the looming threat of Israel's neighbors tossing them out, Israelis enjoy privileges and protections Americans don't. They want Israelis to stay in Isreal to guard it, not run back to Europe. Americans are under no such threat, so the US doesn't give a shit if there's suffering at home. It would be different if the USA's neighbors were trying to expel Americans out of North America and American minorities were engaged in armed resistance with help from foreign governments.

Is it just “it’s afraid”? Is it the desperate flailing of a failing colony? No one cares if you say “Free Hawaii” because the powerful aren’t worried about Hawaii being freed?

Yes, pretty much this.

Israel might actually fall relatively soon. And because there are actual existential threats to Israel looming right now, the fascist's immune response is kicked into high gear specifically for it. The response to opposition is proportional to how much of a threat they think it poses. For example, Red Scares happen when the left has the strength and numbers to potentially harm the bourgeois rule and order. The international and domestic hatred of and opposition to Israel is frightening them, as it should. They're getting increasingly desperate to tamp it down.

The US is more willing to assist Israel than itself, no money for relief after tornadoes and hurricanes but we make sure Israelis get free healthcare?

For the same reason active duty troops get free healthcare. All of this is explained by viewing Israel as an unsinkable Aircraft Carrier permanently parked right next to all of Amerikkk’s biggest enemies. They’re integral to the US oil empire and at this point the Empire has no choice but to funnel resources there despite worsening home conditions.

There is an evil cabal, but it's just

My tl;Dr materialist analysis is the U.S. needs Israel to exist as-is to have just enough instability in the middle east to a) keep the "defence" industry working and b) prevent a united Arab bloc from fixing oil prices.

God forbid we wind down weapons manufacturing and wean ourselves off oil 🙃