Can It Continue?

The special relationship between the United States and Israel is unlike any other relationship in American foreign policy. Through military assistance, diplomatic support, lobbying influence, and decades of political commitment, support for Israel has become deeply embedded in American institutions and public life. The question is whether the relationship, in its current form, best serves the long-term interests of both countries.

Supporters of the U.S.-Israel alliance argue that Israel is a democratic ally in a volatile region, a valuable intelligence partner, and an important strategic asset. Critics argue that the relationship has imposed substantial financial, diplomatic, and military costs on the United States while discouraging a more balanced approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Some observers contend that a genuine and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians would reduce many of those costs, including the need for extraordinary diplomatic intervention, recurring military crises, extensive lobbying efforts, and continual battles over public opinion. Whether such a peace remains achievable is one of the defining questions facing the region.

The consequences of the relationship extend beyond the Middle East. America’s close association with Israeli policies has shaped how the United States is perceived abroad, particularly in parts of the Arab and Muslim world. In the Nira Data study in 2026, the United States ranked among the five least favorably viewed countries in the world, below both China and Russia.[1]

Following the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush often argued that America’s enemies hated the nation’s freedoms and values. Osama bin Laden offered a different explanation, pointing to U.S. policies in the Middle East, including support for Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.[2] Nothing can justify terrorism or the murder of innocent civilians. Nevertheless, the contrast illustrates an important point: many people in the region view the United States not as a distant observer but as an active participant whose actions have consequences.

Whether measured in financial commitments, diplomatic costs, military obligations, international reputation, or regional instability, the relationship raises important questions about the future of American foreign policy. Can this level of support continue? And does the current structure best advance America’s interests, Israel’s long-term security, and the prospects for a lasting peace?

Sources
[1] Nira Data, “Global Country Perceptions 2026”
[2] Osama bin Laden, “Letter to America”