ISRAEL | America's Broken Alliance?

As the war in Gaza continues, tensions between the United States and Israel are growing. This came to a head on 25 March 2024. After vetoing three draft Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire, the US abstained on the latest vote, thus allowing the resolution to pass. This led to accusations from the Israeli government that Washington was hampering its effort to defeat Hamas. Set against the backdrop of growing strains between US President Joe Biden and Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, many are now asking whether the alliance between the United States and Israel is at breaking point?

The special relationship between the United States and Israel has deep roots. Havign taken control of Palestine in the First World War, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which laid the foundation for a Jewish national home. However, while this was endorsed by US President Woodrow Wilson, American support was also balanced by sensitivities towards the Arab Middle East. However, the horrors of the Holocaust catalysed support for Israel's creation and led to a UN plan to partition Palestine. On 14 May 1948, the US became the first country to recognise Israel's independence. But while Washington tried to balance relations in the years that followed and forced Israel to withdraw from Sinai during the 1956 Suez Crisis, the dynamic shifted as the Cold War intensified. After the Six-Day War, Israel became a key ally against Soviet-backed Arab states.

Despite occasional friction, the strategic alliance has steadily strengthened since then. This led to landmark breakthroughs like the Camp David Accords and the Oslo Accords. However, while US-Israel ties have remained strong in the 21st century, the special relationship faces new trials amidst escalating conflicts, notably the recent war in Gaza. Historical US support, typified by vetoing UN resolutions critical of Israel and extensive military aid, came under particular strain in March 2024 when the US abstained from a UN call for a ceasefire. This development, with growing criticism from the Biden Administration, signals potential changes in a historically steadfast alliance. While the strategic partnership remains strong, significant challenges may be on the horizon.

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*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:52 Special Relationships in International Relations
01:39 The United States and the Creation of Israel
03:36 The Emergence of the US-Israel Special Relationship
06:23 The United States and Middle East Peace Processes
08:08 US Support for Israel since 2000
10:14 The United States and Israel’s War in Gaza
12:22 Are US-Israel Relations at Breaking Point?

*SOURCES AND FURTHER READING*
Israel | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
US State Department | Israel
American Israel Public Affairs Committee | AIPAC
Council on Foreign Relations | U.S. Aid to Israel
Question of Palestine | Vetoed Resolutions

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- The contents of this video and any views expressed in it were not reviewed in advance nor determined by any outside persons or organisation.
- Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel and will be at no additional cost to you.

#Israel #UnitedStates #Palestine

[JamesKerLindsay]

This is another topic I’ve wanted to cover for ages. The relationship between Israel and the United States is fascinating in all sorts of ways and has a somewhat less straightforward history than many realise. But how should we understand the current tensions? Is the rift deeper or shallower than it seems? And should the US continue to bear the diplomatic burden of supporting Israel if this Israeli Government (or a future one) doesn’t make any effort to reach a comprehensive final settlement on Palestine? As always, I look forward to your comments below.

[inam]

So what I observed is that Israel has only faced crticism and nothing else for its illegal activities for the past 70 years and uptil today aswell

[IAmNumber]

What do people even mean when they refer to Israel's "Right to exist"? This is a state we're talking about, and a _state_ can't have rights the same way a person can.

It's really starting to sound like people really mean "Israel's right to ethnically cleanse the people who were already living there". You don't have some inherent, unalienable right to steal from someone else.

Edit: Israel’s leadership has clearly committed to “might makes right”, flouting international law. If someone else conquers them (I.e. Iran), what is the issue, from the moral framework they operate with?

“Right to exist” is just more propaganda designed to obscure the real strategic reason why the West ships weapons to Israel. The west doesn’t have some inherent moral duty to defend Israel, if their position in the region is untenable then that’s not our responsibility, and it’s absurd to let them drag us into another war.

[markdowding]

This is not the first UNSC resolution criticizing Israel that the US has abstained (UNSC 2334). For the last few years, there has been a pattern of when Israel escalates things the US becomes increasingly frustrated until eventually does something to show its frustration with Israel's actions. But when things calm down all sides just sort of forget everything that happened and go back to having good relations. Netanyahu might also be betting that Biden will leave the white house in the upcoming presidential elections (as most analysts predict) and wait for the return of his buddy Donald Trump who is a staunch Israel supporter.

[CashSache]

We should remember the United States, along the United Kingdom, were the last holdouts supporting Apartheid South Africa. New century, old apartheid but the support continues.

[piotrtchaikovski]

It's interesting to see the only country that interfers so clearly and openly in internal affairs in the United States isn't Russia or China but it's israel
The lobbying groups have became so powerful it would be uncomfortable for anyone with power to stand against Israel

[thetitansofbrahma]

Your balanced and dispassionate analysis is a relief to hear in the current polarized environment. Edit: You ask for views on this. Israel and Palestine both have the “right to exist”, even if a virulent zero sum mentality seems to be gaining steam. The U.S. must remain engaged, and continue to fail to find a solution, until a solution is eventually found.

[MrJoneschase]

I think a lot of the younger Americans are insanely less supportive of Israel. Netanyahu and Israel lost the media battle and didn't even bother really doing anything about it. Especially, when all we're now seeing is just devastated cities in Gaza and that these people are basically trapped between Israel and Egypt with nowhere to flee. Bibi is also a major part of the problem because it's downright impossible to really like the guy based off what he says and does (Israeli polling seems to indicate they don't even like him). Anyways, as far as American public opinion goes it has been slipping for quite some time and the next generation is going to tolerate a lot less from Israel than they've become used to.

[TheLocalLt]

This was a fantastic and much-needed breakdown, cutting through all the noise. Thanks as always for your tempered analysis professor!

[tiredox]

I think you should've mentioned Russia and Israeli relationship too.

[TheJosephPrice]

Those weren’t “Palestinian Territories” at the time of the 1967 war. Gaza was part of Egypt and The West Bank part of Jordan, hence its name. They were then occupied as buffer zones, much like the Sinai Peninsula.

[Abdi-zvex]

Four billions dollars a year and expensive weapons from United State, Israel maybe have powerfull lobbies in United State.

[Gtee]

7:28 The Oslo Accords did not include "a commitment to recognize a Palestinian state". The text of the agreement does not refer to the future of creation of a Palestinian state. Yitzhak Rabin opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, instead calling for "something less than a state". Please include a correction.

[KC_GS]

Great video, one small nitpick: the photo used at 5:50 is of C-17 Globemaster III aircraft facing the camera, which did not enter service until 1995. Additionally, all aircraft are sporting USAF Air Mobility Command’s gray paint livery, which was introduced after the Gulf War. All of this is to say this photo couldn’t have been from an operation in 1973. Searching around it appears the Nixon Foundation made this mistake first, which is where I assume the error originates. Again, great video overall, just a slight nitpick.

[marygrace]

Americans so called "special relationship" with Israel cannot break up fast enough.

[hugowilliams]

US has been used for 70 years and didn't know it.

[trikkid]

Nicely balanced and unbiased analysis. Thank you.

[bry]

Look at the ones we can not talk about. Gods special ones. Uss liberty was covered up well, miitary men threatened if they talk.

[naasikhendricks]

10:26 you forgot the haniball directive.

[richiesd]

Technicality here, I don’t believe there is an alliance treaty between USA and Israel. It’s the USA being beholden to Israel John Mearsheimer wrote a book on that.