The questions in the US about the country’s “historical” relationship with Israel have not gone as far as forcing Washington to radically and comprehensively rethink its deep ties with Tel Aviv, which is unlike any of the United States’ relationships with another country. Talk on how the costs Washington incurs due to this robust alliance outweighs the benefits, also falls short of precipitating a shift, in its strategic approach, in this regard.
Moreover, fears about the “most radical government in Israeli history” voiced by an array of US and Israeli figures are not enough to push Washington to adopt a more moderate position vis a visa Palestine and the Palestinians. While US President Joe Biden has repeatedly paid lip service to the “two-state solution,” this rhetorical support has not led to any political or practical steps being taken.
It is true that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s statements to the leftist pro-Israel leftist lobby group ‘J Street’ that his country intends to “gauge the government by the policies it pursues rather than individual personalities” might hide apprehensions regarding the future direction Israel may take. However, this mere fact does not imply that the administration is contemplating ways to apply pressure on Israel and certainly not “abandoning” the alliance.
As for the many statements on this matter that we heard from members of Congress, especially by Democrats, who expressed “concerns about human rights” and criticized the composition of the new Israeli government, they are not an indication that we could see Congress apply pressure as part of the game of American politics. The fact is that both of the main parties, the Democrats and Republicans, are in agreement over the need to protect and support Israel and to maintain their country’s strategic relationship with it, regardless of the circumstances. These rhetorical “complaints” are little more than attempts to put their stance on record.
Some might point to a famous New York Times editorial published in mid-December 2022 where the paper argues that “Netanyahu’s government threatens the future of Israel” and that “moderating forces in Israeli politics and civil society are already planning energetic resistance… deserve support from the American public and the Biden administration.” These statements are indeed remarkable, but they are made in the spirit of watching out for Israel and supporting its survival as a Jewish state. These are not absolute criticisms but rather stem from a desire to protect Israel.
The Biden administration has avoided diving into the Palestinian - Israeli conflict. And, it might be closer to affirming some of the facts (though not openly), which, as far as Israel is concerned, have become gains that cannot be conceded. The Biden administration has not reversed Trump’s 2017 decision to relocate the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which Trump also recognized as Israel’s capital.
Furthermore, although Washington does not see the Abraham Accords as an alternative to Palestinian-Israeli peace, it has not reneged on them or disparaged them either. It has encouraged and continues to encourage the steps some Arab countries have taken to normalize relations with it, albeit while also reintroducing aid to the Palestinians and UNRWA, which former president Donal Trump had also suspended.
Speaking of US support for Tel Aviv, over half of American foreign aid in the fiscal year 2022 went to Israel. Also, since the two countries signed the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding, Washington has been providing Israel with $4 billion a year, including $500 million allocated for air and missile defense. Simple arithmetics show us that, by comparison, US support for the Palestinians (with its political implications, of course) between 1994 and 2018, 25 years, did not exceed $5 billion.
For decades, Israel has managed to present itself as the only democracy in the Middle East. It has successfully made the case that the United States has a “moral obligation” to support it because of the countries’ shared values on human rights, freedoms, and other flashy talking points that go against the military and security actions that Israel takes daily. The latter does not hesitate to throw these values against the wall through policies that displace and victimize the Palestinians, going as far as murdering them, as we saw with the journalist Sherine Abu Akleh and dozens of innocent civilians and children.
The website of the strongest Jewish lobby group in Washington, AIPAC, boasts that “unlike other allies, Israel insists on defending itself by itself, relying on America only to help ensure it has the means to do so. Israel has never asked Americans to sacrifice their lives; instead, the Israeli people defend themselves while advancing vital US national security interests.” Israel’s occupation doubtlessly would have been sanctioned for breaching international law for the grave violation violations it commits on a daily basis if it weren’t for the immense military and moral support Washington provides. Of course, we should not ignore its readiness to use its veto power in the UN Security Council either.
It is clear that awaiting a rupture between the US and Israel in the near is a losing bet. It defies political logic and ignores the historical context whose trajectories and consequences have been apparent, and they are painful, draining, and vicious.
