US-Israel relations: a love that is conditional

Opinion: Today Israel depends on the US for crucial armaments to defend itself from surrounding enemies but it must end to truly defend ourselves, by ourselves.

Brigadier Genernal (res.) Amir Avivi | YNET | June 1, 2024

Israel must end American dependence

President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Our close and beneficial friendship with the Americans has morphed in the past years into dependence. This state of affairs is harmful to Israel and to its relations with the United States. To protect our interests, and surprisingly, those of the U.S. as well, Israel must return to a pillar concept of Zionism: independence, writes Brigadier General

Although it is now common knowledge that relations between Israel and the U.S. are both deeply strategic and that America is without doubt Israel’s staunchest ally, it is important to remember that this was not always the case.

Israel’s defiance of the U.S. at our inception

In November 1947, the Pentagon’s clear recommendation was not to support the establishment of the State of Israel, since this would prove without a doubt to be detrimental to relations with their rich and powerful Arab allies. The Americans had begun pushing young Israel to withdraw from the Negev in the south and from the Galilee in the north. However, Prime Minister David Ben Gurion refused these American requests, leading to the American arms embargo on Israel.

Middle East priorities: The American shift from Iran to the KSA

Since then, the Americans have continued to prioritize relations with strong, rich countries. Saudi Arabia and Iran, albeit geographically close, are sworn enemies and the U.S. is a component in these dynamics. This began at the onset of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1978-79, when the Islamic Republic placed the U.S. at the top of its enemy list, on account of its close relations with the previous Pahlavi government. From that point onward, the U.S. cultivated warm relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia instead.

U.S. shale oil production reduced the need for Middle Eastern supplies

However, during the Obama administration, a historic development occurred: the U.S. achieved energy independence thanks to its production of oil from shale rock – which exists in abundance in the U.S. This fracking production technology not only freed the US from the need to purchase oil from other countries but allowed it to export the commodity as well.

President Obama’s JCPOA nuclear agreement endangered Israel’s security

As relations with the KSA were no longer a priority for the Americans from this point, the Kingdom turned from strategic ally to rival. Iran then also proved itself as a noteworthy technological opponent with growing military prowess. President Obama consequently chose to develop the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement, which placed Israel’s security interests at great peril among others.

Israel can help to counter U.S. security threats from the East

Nevertheless, the U.S. nowadays faces fierce competition from the East. China, India, Russia, and even Iran are posing a formidable challenge to the US in diverse areas such as AI, quantum mechanics, hypersonic weapons, and laser technology.

America’s ability to counterweight these threats depends to a great extent on its military, scientific, and technological partnerships with Israel which matured following Israel’s display of military might in the Six-Day War. Israeli creativity, resourcefulness, and daring, coupled with its ability and willingness to test technologies on the battlefield, make it an invaluable partner for development, and this constitutes a crucial cornerstone of cooperation between the two.

American vision for overland trade route into Israel

President Biden also highlighted his vision for economy and commerce with Israel during his latest visit where he discussed the prospects of a new global trade route, which would run overland from India through the UAE, the KSA, and onto Israel. Rather than traversing the threatened Red Sea, this new trade route would run overland to the Mediterranean Ocean. This plan, albeit contingent on the normalization of Israel-Saudi relations, would turn Israel into a global trade hub.

Israel must invest independently in its defenses

Sadly though, a byproduct of such warm relations with the U.S. is a sense of complacency on the part of Israel, perpetuating the belief that America’s support is forever guaranteed on the premise of shared values. We also see unjustified dependence on the munitions provided to Israel by the U.S.

This scale of economic aid from the U.S. is no justification for Israel’s dependence, however, if Israel invested this money in its industry, it would return the investment, possibly with gains. Today, even pro-Israel elements in the US raise eyebrows at the sheer scale of financial aid it receives from the US. As a developed country with a stable economy, we can – and must – be independent.

To conclude

This assurance is the basis for the Zionistic vision and justification for the existence of Israel. To fully realize this, Israel must wean itself from America’s aid and ensure that it can defend itself with its own technologies.

In order to preserve American interests, Israel must not lose its military might, which allowed it to prevail over three Arab armies in only six days 56 years ago, despite the US arms embargo. The US does not need another protectorate. It needs a partner and Israel can and should be that partner. Israel must continue to build up its military might, establish its independence in a multitude of areas, and prove itself to the Americans.

Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi is the chairman and founder of the Israel Defense And Security Forum – IDSF (Habithonistim)