What does the U.S. get out of it?

That's something I have been thinking about for a long time. I have never heard what benefits we as a country get out of supporting the Israel "state?" Besides appealing to a small but very vocal minority. To give you an idea of how small this group is, we now have more people who openly say they are atheist in this country. Which is no small feat in such a religiously controlled state.
Though you have to remember that we where not the only country to support there statehood. Great Britain also had a hand in it, but as time went on you can openly disagree with Israel. When a journalist speaks ill off the harsh treatment in Gaza they get letters written to them, with harsh and slanderous accusations, such as anti-Semite. Have we come to this point that you have to only speak words against one country safely behind the anonymity of the internet? How did a such a small population change the very way we are allowed to speak our mind?
Though do not get me wrong, Israel was being attacked by rockets so they did have to do something. Though you would hard pressed to deny the disproportionate levels of attacks. So what is a fair way to deal with the situation? I have no idea but something does need to change.