Israel Faces New US Reality, Needs Strategic Maturity
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
Israel is grappling with a shift in US foreign policy, particularly under former President Donald Trump's successor, J.D. Vance, who prioritizes American domestic interests over traditional alliances. This marks a move away from unconditional military support, driven by American public opinion against foreign wars and economic concerns. The article stresses the need for Israel to adapt to this new reality, focusing on strategic independence rather than relying on past alliances, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich cited as an example of this pragmatic approach.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel faces a new US political reality where domestic interests supersede traditional alliances.
- Vice President J.D. Vance represents a shift in US policy, prioritizing American voters' concerns.
- The Republican party is divided, with the conservative-nationalist wing, led by Vance, gaining prominence.
- Israel must develop "strategic maturity" and reduce dependence on US foreign policy decisions.
- American public opinion and economic factors are driving a withdrawal from foreign conflicts.
Approximately six months after former President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war with Iran without Israel's consent, a painful truth has emerged for Israel: the US administration's considerations extend beyond Israeli interests. American public opinion, wary of involvement in "other people's wars," along with global and US oil prices and the economy, now take precedence over Israel's security concerns. Israel has yet to fully adjust to this new political reality, which contradicts previous understandings of unconditional military alliance, leaving feelings of insult and betrayal.
Attention has turned to Vice President J.D. Vance, Trump's perceived successor, whom some in Israel label a "separatist leader" within the Republican party. Vance's influence on Trump's policy is seen as having shifted the approach to the war with Iran, signaling a move away from figures committed to a strong military alliance with Israel. Some Israeli media and citizens have labeled Vance with derogatory terms, even suggesting Marco Rubio as a replacement successor, a notion the article dismisses as naive and potentially harmful to Israeli-US relations.
The article outlines the complex structure of the Republican party, identifying three main factions: the conservative-nationalist wing (around 65%), aligned with Vance and Rubio; the liberal wing (25%), represented by Nikki Haley, Mike Pompeo, and Ted Cruz, who oppose a nationalist-conservative president; and a small antisemitic fringe (3%) associated with figures like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Nick Fuentes, who have been distanced by Trump and Vance.
It emphasizes that Vance is the clear frontrunner for the conservative electorate, with Rubio fully endorsing him, and any attempt by liberal Republican influencers to promote an alternative scenario is unrealistic and detrimental to Israel's relationship with Vance. Vance's base of approximately 77 million supporters elected Trump on a promise to end "other people's wars," viewing involvement in distant conflicts as a breach of a core electoral promise and prioritizing domestic economic concerns.
This new generation of the right demands a detachment from traditional political alliances that do not serve American interests, refusing to see the war with Iran as a shared existential interest and justifying distance from Israel by "war fatigue." This sentiment is reflected in polls, pressuring the administration to alter its course. The article argues that any Republican candidate ignoring this voter sentiment risks electoral defeat, which would be disastrous for Israel, likely leading to the election of a Democratic candidate.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is presented as the only statesman unfazed by this new reality, advocating for Israeli independence and sovereignty. The article urges Israeli right-wing activists to cease attacking Vance and undermining the potential future president, instead focusing on "strategic maturity", a concept articulated by Smotrich, which involves setting boundaries on US interference in Israel's political and military decisions, moving away from dependent alliances towards a more self-reliant approach.
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