[aguaviva]

Overt U.S. meddling began (and in a very significant way) in 1956 with the Suez Crisis.

The US had nothing to do with Israel forming beyond being part of the UN vote

True for the U.S. at the government -- but not for the U.S. as a country. One of the earliest major Zionist associations (the Federation of Zionist Societies - a forerunner of the modern ZOA) was formed in New York in 1897. The movement would continue to receive key funding from American backers, and held one of its key meetings in New York in 1942:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biltmore_Conference

The movement's ideological (some would even say "spiritual") underpinnings can be traced to the mid-19th century writings of this American playwright and utopian activist - said to be the originator of the idea of resettling Jews in Palestine, predating the efforts Herzl himself by half a century:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordecai_Manuel_Noah

So American meddling in the region goes back quite far indeed.