“…the US treats Israel as its most indispensable accomplice in ensuring its economic and political interests in West Asia and North Africa (WANA); even though it has numerous and formidable allies in the region. Likewise, Israel needs US’ support because of its notorious actions against Palestinians and the wars it launched against neighboring countries which made it unpopular in the Arab region. This condition, based on mutual necessities, in effect established Israel as an American foothold in the Arab region”
At a glance:
***
Since the 1947 Partition Plan, the United States (US) has been supportive of the establishment of a “Jewish state” in Palestine. Former US President Harry Truman was even the first world leader to acknowledge Israel’s “independence” in 1948, hence its statehood.[1]
Massive protests, intifadas, and uprisings (both armed and unarmed) have transpired since then, and the Palestinian struggle persists up to this day.[2]
Seventy-five years later, the US continues—and even beefed up—its unconditional support of Israel despite the latter being considered a “pariah state” in the international community due to its genocidal war crimes.[3][4] Over the years, the US has ushered in the militarist consolidation of Israel and its genocide against the Palestinian people.
Why does the US pamper, coddle, and arm Israel to the teeth up to this extent?The main reason is the US treats Israel as its most indispensable accomplice in ensuring its economic and political interests in West Asia and North Africa (WANA); even though it has numerous and formidable allies in the region.[6] Likewise, Israel needs US’ support because of its notorious actions against Palestinians and the wars it launched against neighboring countries which made it unpopular in the Arab region. This condition, based on mutual necessities, in effect established Israel as an American foothold in the Arab region.
Even as the Israeli Defense Forces, or IDF (often called the “Israeli Occupation Forces” or IOF by Palestinian activists and supporters), continue to be exposed for their war crimes, the US seems to be unremorseful with its unfaltering economic and military support. It doesn’t even criticize the Dahiya doctrine, which considers civilians as fair game and collateral damage, behind the IDF’s aggression.[7]
This is evident in how the mainstream media continues to toe the line of the anti-Hamas narrative. Time and again, the Western media have parroted Israel’s so-called “right to exist” and “right to defend”, which effectively degrades Palestinians in subtle and explicit ways through the “blame Hamas” pretext. Days after the commencement of the renewed brutal siege by Israel in the Gaza Strip starting October 7, 2023, hundreds of journalists and news organizations condemned Western media coverage — holding them “accountable” for their “dehumanizing rhetoric” and “enabling the genocide.”[8]
The Hand that Feeds TyrantsThe US “demonizing” its supposed ‘enemies’ is unsurprising, as it has a long history of supporting fascist and repressive governments in attempts to crush national liberation movements everywhere in the world, sometimes even resorting to foreign intervention on sovereign states to supplant or overthrow existing governments.[9]
Aside from ushering the right-wing dictators in Latin America to power, at the height of the Cold War, the US has supported its counterparts in Asia Pacific. For instance, it reinforced the dictators and warlords of Indonesia (under Suharto’s dictatorship), China (before the Kuomintang’s final defeat), the Philippines (before and during the Marcos dictatorship), Vietnam (before its final liberation), Laos (during the civil war before liberation), and many others against the “Communist threat.”[10]
A few years back, the US intervened in conflicts in Libya, Yemen, Iran (where the 1979 Islamic Revolution defeated it), and Iraq (sending troops to ‘destroy’ nonexistent ‘weapons of mass destruction’. Consistently, the US involves itself in conflict flashpoints outside of its soil — either in the name of “freedom and democracy” or “against terrorism” or both.[11]
This paradoxical support for tyrannical regimes, apartheid, and neo-fascist states in contrast with the “defense of human rights and democracy” is more than a simple “renewal” of the Truman doctrine.[9][13][13] It could be considered a “recalibration” of strategy in the face of rising foes. The US’ political and economic interests are still at stake, just like during the Cold War.
US versus rival superpowersAmong the most important economic factors in the WANA region is the Suez Canal, which hosts the most efficient trading route from Europe to Asia.[14] The US holds it integral to its interests as seen in its response in 1956 when Egypt tried to nationalize the maritime route.[15]
With China and Russia as its new foes in a multipolar age, the US pursues its “Pivot to Asia” strategy to contain its rivals’ influence and, more importantly, to ensure that its imperial interests are protected across all subregions of the world.[16]
The US will maintain and reinforce Israel to thwart China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the region and keep “Russian influence” at bay.[Ibid.] In the context that the struggle for Palestinian liberation gains stronger momentum and worldwide solidarity, the US becomes more eager to strengthen the Israeli apartheid state in hopes of crushing the “Hamas threat”—which, in their definition, is any group that advances the plight of the Palestinians.[17][18]
Israel, an “exceptional ally” (and business partner)Aside from being a frontrunner of the US’ imperialist agenda, Israel is also a major US business partner. Evident in its technological innovation, the pariah state hosts hundreds of research & development (R&D) centers for over 500 multinational companies, including Intel, IBM, Apple, Sony, and Microsoft, among others.[19][20]
Since 2015, Israel has been investing a large chunk of its GDP in technological R&D, with 4.3% allotted in that year—considered the largest in the world at that time. Additionally, it is considered home to one of the most advanced semiconductor firms.[Ibid.]
Israel, being a business and tech hub in the middle of an underdeveloped region, is hence a concrete manifestation of the US’ interests “at home and abroad.”[21]
Were there not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interests in the region.Sen. Joe Biden, 1986
Were there not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interests in the region.
For the US empire, freedom for any people or country is not freedom unless their interests are in topmost priority. Palestinian victory might mean the dissolution of Israel and such an event might weaken American influence in the region.
Thus, whether Israel ceases its atrocities in Palestine or not, the US will unconditionally support its existence. To quote Joe Biden during his Senate years and across his political career, “If there were not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent one.” This is all in the name of securing the American empire’s interests at the expense of Palestinians’ lives, rights, and culture and the freedom of the peoples of the world. #
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[1] Why is the US unequivocal in its support for Israel?, Al Jazeera, 2021
[2] Intifada is an Arabic word which literally translates to “to shake off”; by 1985, it was used to define the Palestinians’ uprising against Israeli occupation in their land, Merriam-Webster Dictionary
[3] A pariah state is a country or nation which is not accepted or recognized by the majority of governments around the world, World Atlas
[4] On Palestine, Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé, ed. by Frank Barat, 2015
[5] In 2022, The Economist ranked Israel as the 4th most successful economy among developed countries, 2022
[6] US Military Presence in the Asia Pacific, APRN, 2023
[7] US and Israel officials guilty of war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), 2023
[8] We condemn Israel’s killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians, https://www.protect-journalists.com/
[9] What’s not being said about the Ukraine Conflict, APRN, 2022
[10] Against Empire, Michael Parenti, 1995
[11] The US National Security Strategy since 2002, White House
[12] The US has a long history of supporting fascist regimes and even absorbing and integrating former public and military officials from these regimes yet claims to be a staunch defender of human rights.
[13] The Truman doctrine is the guiding principle of the United States Foreign Relations since 1947, US State Department, Office of the Historian
[14] Why the Suez Canal is so important – and why its blockage could be so damaging, CNN, 2021
[15] Suez Canal Crisis: National Sovereignty versus International Access to Waterways, National Museum of American Diplomacy
[16] US’ intensified pivot to Asia a threat to peace, hastens the possibility of outright war, APRN, 2022
[17] The US government has been condemned for using Hamas as a pretext for supporting Israel’s aggression in Palestine, especially in the Gaza strip.
[18] Netanyahu, together with genocide enablers inside and outside of Israel, claiming that civilians inside Gaza are “legitimate targets”, “collateral damage” in their operation against Hamas, ILPS, 2023
[19] Why Israel is a Rising Innovation Hub, CEO World Magazine, 2023
[20] War in Israel to Impact Electronics Supply Chain, EPS News, 2023[21] “At home and abroad” is a recurring clause in the United States’ foreign policy documents, US State Department, Bureau of Public Affairs, 2008
[21] “At home and abroad” is a recurring clause in the United States’ foreign policy documents, US State Department, Bureau of Public Affairs, 2008
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