Stop blaming Israel for America's decisions- opinion
America chose its wars. Blaming Israel for Washington’s decisions is not accountability. It’s an alibi.
The recent defeat of Republicans in the US midterm elections has led to a peculiar argument: that the world's most powerful country is being controlled by one of its most dependent allies. Even prominent figures like Vice President JD Vance and former President Donald Trump have blamed America's political struggles on Israel. The story presents a troubling narrative: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly dragged America into a war, and Israel wields disproportionate influence over Washington.
This argument is deeply flawed. While Israel provides intelligence and strategic assessments, it cannot dictate American military decisions. The United States possesses an unmatched military, intelligence, and economic capacity. Therefore, it should be able to evaluate its relationship with Israel independently. The claim that Israel controls America's foreign policy is absurd.
Israel's capabilities in comparison to those of the United States are minimal. Even powerful allies like Qatar, with extensive resources and military installations, are not seen as dictating American foreign policy. The relationship between the U.S. and Israel is fundamentally asymmetric. The argument that Israel controls America is not supported by evidence.
When the U.S. supports Israel, it doesn't necessarily mean Israel has influenced the decision. Sometimes, it simply reflects shared interests and preferences. The argument becomes unfalsifiable as well. When the U.S. supports Israel, it supposedly proves Israeli control, and when the U.S. opposes Israel, it merely shows the limits of that control.
There must be clear evidence to disprove the theory. History provides counterexamples, such as when Dwight Eisenhower pressured Israel to withdraw from Sinai in 1956, or when Barack Obama pursued the Iran nuclear agreement despite Netanyahu's opposition. The key point is that the U.S.-Israel relationship operates within a balance of power that heavily favors Washington.
Many in the U.S. seem to have forgotten this. Republicans lost due to various factors, including dissatisfaction over living costs, the Iran war, political leadership, and domestic issues. Linking these to Israel's influence is both politically convenient and intellectually lazy. Once Israel becomes a scapegoat for America's failures, the narrative risks becoming self-reinforcing.
Any unpopular policy associated with Israel becomes further evidence of its supposed influence, regardless of whether the U.S. independently supported it. The irony is striking: while the U.S. celebrates its sovereignty and independence, it increasingly seems to believe it is helpless against Israel. Ultimately, the U.S. is entitled to reconsider its relationship with Israel and make sovereign decisions.
But a superpower cannot claim overwhelming power and then plead helplessness when the consequences of exercising that power are unpopular.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
