“We both have it Jewish Foreign Minister“The American President said, Richard NixonMore than half a century ago, the Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meirreferring to Henry Kissinger and Abba Eban. His interlocutor replied: “Yes, but my foreign minister speaks English without a foreign accent.” This conversation reflects not only the sarcasm shown by Israel’s first prime minister, but also the warm bilateral relations since the president took power Harry Truman It recognized the Jewish state 11 minutes after the 1948 declaration.
This conversation reflects not only the cynicism of the first prime minister IsraelBut also the warm bilateral relations since President Harry Truman recognized the Jewish state 11 minutes after declaring independence in 1948, despite opposition from the State Department under George Marshall.
Today, a group of sensitive issues awakens latent questioning in Israel about them If your government can make decisions that conflict with the position of its main ally or if it becomes its “51st state”As they claim in the opposition when they criticize them Benjamin Netanyahu.
After an accusation Premiere After I surrendered to dictates USA By allowing the departure of 150 members of the armed wing of Hamas – who to this day remain in tunnels in Israeli-controlled areas of the Gaza Strip – right-wing opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman asserts that “Jared Kushner is the acting Prime Minister of Israel and Steve Witkoff is a member of the limited government.”. Refers to the president’s advisors Donald Trumpwhose influence exceeds that of almost any minister in the decision-making process in Israel.
Washington is not only the architect, but also the manager of the ceasefire that it imposed indirectly on Hamas (through Qatar and Turkey) and directly on Netanyahu a month ago. “There has always been a dependence on Israel in the United States, but what we are seeing in recent months is even more evident“With unprecedented events,” says professor of international relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ari Kakovic, who lists some of them: “The American military intervention in Iran was precise and significant, and actually led to the end of the war with Israel.” He added, “In addition, we see the influence of the Arab-Saudi-French initiative in Trump’s plan, and that Washington has a base in southern Israel with other countries to supervise the truce.”
The attack on Doha, the decisive date
Kakovic points to the failed Israeli attack against Hamas in Doha, on September 9, as a key date. “After the attack, the United States came to the conclusion that it could not trust Israel,” he told this newspaper. After providing the information The Washington Post Regarding the meetings organized by the US military in the region with Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain in the past two years, the academic explains that “suddenly, a very important ally of the United States, like Israel, attacks another allied country, like Qatar. The Trump administration continues to support Israel, but it has come to the conclusion that… Decisions in our country are not entirely rational, or they somehow conflict with their interests“.
In this sense, we must remember Netanyahu’s apologetic phone call with his Qatari counterpart in the White House, in the face of a complacent Trump. Establishment of a foreign power in episodeInternationalizing the conflict and also allowing a certain Qatari and Turkish influence (as the government did not want), or a US veto on the annexation of the West Bank (as the government wanted), implies, in a way, that the President of the United States has the final say regarding transcendent Israeli decisions.
But is it really a protectorate or a dependent state? “It would be sensational to say that we are a satellite state“Firstly because we are not the only case, but obviously the possibility that Israel could make major decisions against Washington seems more difficult to me,” says Kakovic. Israel loses its independence After boasting the most special relations, it now appears to be competing with other countries to be the United States’ closest ally, due, for example, to the fascinating dynamic between Trump and Erdogan, and relations with Turkey. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and QatarHe adds.
Netanyahu responds: “When I was in Washington, it was said that I controlled the American administration and dictated its security policy, and now they claim the opposite: The American administration controls me and dictates Israel’s security policy. Both statements are incorrect,” stressing that in the past year there has been “an unparalleled alliance and cooperation with the United States.”
“We are not an American protectorate,” he stressed in the presence of Vice President J.D. Vance during his visit. This was clear: “We do not want a protectorate, we want Israel to be our ally.”. Oddly enough, Netanyahu is being criticized for what other Israeli leaders always denounce: giving in to pressure from the United States.
Kakovic explains that this is not the first time Washington has intervened. “When Israel entered the Sinai in the 1948 War of Independence, the United States ordered it to leave. In the 1956 Suez Campaign, Eisenhower and the Russians forced Israel to withdraw. In the 1973 war, the White House urged Israel not to destroy the Third Fleet in order to end the war in a draw. In 1982, Reagan intervened to reach an agreement and expel the Palestine Liberation Organization from Beirut. There is a pattern of behavior, although today we see it in a more extreme way“.
Trump’s interference in domestic affairs, by asking for a pardon from Netanyahu in the corruption trial, is unprecedented and is the best evidence of the political and personal telegram extending from the White House to the United States. PremiereWith which it maintains a close and complex relationship outside the country’s diplomatic and military umbrella. His request letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, released on Wednesday, further inflamed the debate.
“Those who call themselves National field They must also tell the American president: “We are a sovereign state, and intervention has limits.” Opposition leader Yair Lapid denounced to coalition representatives, “You cannot send messages demanding a pardon for the Israeli prime minister in a criminal trial.” He added: “We are a proud and sovereign country and we are not anyone’s protectorate.”
Netanyahu thanked Trump for requesting a pardon from Herzog in his speech in the Knesset a month ago and in an official letter. Not to achieve it now — normally a potential pardoned person or an immediate family member must request it after a conviction and guilty plea — but to deepen internal criticism of the investigation and judicial process against him that began in 2016 and garner, in an election year, media support for Trump, who is also popular for his decisive role in the return of the kidnappers. And far from Netanyahu’s interest, Trump is convinced that he has been subjected to political and unfair persecution By the judicial establishment, in the same way as it was in the United States.
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