I have a new column this week on OnlySky. It’s about how the once-permissive relationship between America and Israel may be coming to an end.
Until very recently, unwavering support for Israel was a cornerstone of both major U.S. political parties. Democratic politicians supported Israel because Jewish voters were an important part of their base; Republicans, because white evangelical Christians are their base, and most of them are premillennial dispensationalists who believe Israel’s existence is a prerequisite for the end-times scenario they long for.
But all that was before Hamas’ October 7 attacks, to which Israel responded by launching a genocidal war on the entire Gaza Strip. Not only has that conflict not been resolved yet, Israel has only gotten more aggressive and belligerent since then – bombing Syria, invading Lebanon, and dragging the U.S. into a globally disastrous war with Iran.
Would U.S. voters be okay with all this? Recent polls suggest the answer is an unambiguous no. In fact, for the first time ever, one poll finds that Americans are now more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause than to Israel.
Support for an arms embargo and recognition of a Palestinian state is growing by leaps and bounds, especially among young voters. The question that should be keeping Israeli hawks up at night is – might that previous alliance return in time, or is this a permanent rupture?
Read the excerpt below, then click through to see the full piece. This column is members-only, so consider signing up! Members of OnlySky also get special benefits, like a subscriber newsletter:
All this is in accordance with the desires of a fanatical, religious fundamentalist faction in Israeli politics. They believe that God has given them a huge swath of territory: not just Gaza or the West Bank, but all the way to the Euphrates River, far beyond Israel’s current borders. In a colossal show of arrogance, they refer to this imperialist dream as “Greater Israel”.
They believe they have divine permission to conquer and rule this land, displacing or killing everyone who already lives there if necessary. They’re even issuing threatening rhetoric against Turkiye.
The biggest unanswered question is how far America’s tolerance extends. Would American politicians and voters stand by as Israel attempts to gobble up its neighbors? Would we countenance Israel dragging us into war with Iran against the will of the American people, or committing genocide in Palestine with the weapons we gave them?
In the title, the word “divorce” implies the existence of a partnership of equals… but that’s very much not what you’re talking about.
“may be” is doing a LOT of heavy lifting in that second sentence.
What on earth leads you to the impression it matters a shit what U.S. voters think? When has a change of government meant anything changed in the US’s almost fetishistically subservient position in its relationship with Israel?
Bollocks. Israeli hawks are sleeping like babies. There’s nothing “previous” about the Israel-US alliance – I mean ffs, look at a newspaper. They ordered you into a war, and you trotted obediently after them and did as you were told like you always do. And you’re still there.
Hard disagree – the biggest unanswered question is why anyone thinks public opinion in America matters at all.
You could stand by. You could cheer them on. You could complain. It won’t make a single fucking iota of difference. YOU DON’T MATTER. You’re not involved in the decision. Who ever told you you were? Nobody outside the US thinks you are. It’s like asking if my kids would stand by while I attempt to buy a new TV. The difference being – I love my kids, and I might even choose to involve them in the decision, or at least pretend to. Israel didn’t even give you the dignity of asking.
Er… have you read the news at any point in the last two months, or indeed two years?
And let’s just say for a moment that you break the habit of getting on for 80 years, and you don’t “countenance” it – what does that even mean? Strongly worded letter to the New York Times? Stopping buying those bagels you liked? Bod forbid – a march??? Or maybe, and I’m just spitballing here, hitting them with a major (and I mean MAJOR) leafletting campaign?
Those Israeli hawks will be quaking, I’m sure.
You come across as disturbingly deluded about who’s in charge. I’d call you Israel’s poodles, but that would imply some kind of owner/pet relationship where the owner has some kind feelings towards the dumb animal. You’re not poodles. At best, you’re serfs. Slaves. The genius of your masters is they made you pay for your chains, AND give them your money to pay for the whips you make for them to thrash you with.
Israel will tell you when you’re no longer useful to them. That’s the way that works.