With the American withdrawal from Kabul, the future of the American-Israeli alliance is thrown into question. Since the foundation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, American-Israeli middle eastern goals have been in lockstep. However, the abandonment of Afghanistan by the Biden administration has been a repudiation of the longstanding precedent of Iranian containment.
While we Americans are all busy asking ourselves about the future of American global commitments, members of the Israeli government are asking the same question. A common line being uttered now is one of Israeli self-reliance, that the United States cannot be counted on to provide security. This is evidenced in a recent tweet by Ariel Kahana, a correspondent for Israel Hayom, Israel’s most widely-circulated paper/tabloid:
“Put it in your head:
1. There is no substitute for feet on the ground.
2. Do not rely on foreign forces, even American ones, to keep us safe.
3. No agreement, understanding or goodwill, will stand up to extremist and murderous Islam – including Iran – but only extreme pressure, power and toughness.”
What this tweet highlights is a backs-to-the-wall attitude that is becoming more popular in Israel with every American flight out of Kabul. To some, Israel stands on its own against the Islamic world. And with this bleak outlook, Israeli ministers may feel they have no other option than to resort to a show of force: whether it be economic pressure or a strike against Iran.
Nothing overt has changed in the American-Israeli alliance; no public agreement reneged and no laws broken. What has changed is the confidence in American stewardship, an absolutely necessary prerequisite to international cooperation. Whether or not these fears are founded or delusional is inconsequential. Israel now feels like it is up to them to decide their future, whether or not America is part of the show. We can only wait and see what that might be.
