Just after HAMAS attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, murdering 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others, its coalition of socialist and Islamist supporters in the West swiftly mobilized against Israel.
Every Israeli effort to fight back was met with louder chants of “Free Palestine” and “From the River to the Sea,” both calling for Israel’s elimination.
Astonishingly, after nearly two years of refusing to release hostages, HAMAS succeeded in convincing a number of “America First” influencers in the United States to call for ending U.S. support for Israel.
These misguided voices need a reminder of why Israel remains one of America’s most vital strategic assets.
America’s Place in the World
The United States cannot endure in the world as a lone, isolated democracy between two oceans.
To survive and prosper, America must have strong democratic allies around the globe who share its values and interests.
This has always been the foundation of U.S. foreign policy, from supporting democratic Western Europe and Japan after World War II to sustaining alliances with Australia, Argentina, and Israel today.
America’s entry into World War II itself was driven by the imperative to preserve global democracy and prevent tyranny from dominating free nations out of its own long-term interests.
Shared History and Values
The United States and Israel share a common legacy of liberation from British rule and a fierce devotion to self-determination.
In 1776, American colonists fought for liberty and the birth of a democratic republic.
In the years leading up to 1948, Jewish resistance movements in Mandatory Palestine fought to end British control and fulfill an ancient promise to reestablish the Jewish homeland.
Both revolutions, separated by centuries, were born of the same yearning for freedom and independent nationhood.
The U.S.–Israel bond also runs deeper than politics. It is rooted in shared Judeo-Christian values that define their moral and constitutional foundations.
From the biblical principles that inspired America’s founding vision of liberty and justice, to Israel’s embodiment of faith, perseverance, and moral resolve, both nations draw strength from a belief in divine purpose.
This spiritual kinship sustains the U.S.-Israel alliance in defending democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, forming not merely a partnership of nations, but a covenant of shared destiny.
The Miliary Alliance – Cold War Precedent
In 1979, candidate Ronald Reagan wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post entitled “Recognizing the Israeli Asset.”
Reagan wrote that Israel was a bulwark against Soviet expansionism and a powerful force protecting Western security interests.
He argued that Israel represented a vast, unsinkable U.S. base in the Middle East that required no American troops.
Reagan recognized that the paramount U.S. interest in the Middle East was to prevent the region from falling under Soviet domination.
He understood that control of Middle Eastern oil routes could jeopardize the economies of Europe and Japan, key American allies.
Throughout the Cold War, Israel repeatedly proved itself as an indispensable stabilizing force against Soviet-backed regimes, helping secure the Western victory over Communism.
Today, the geopolitical reality is strikingly similar. As in Reagan’s time, America needs Israel, not as a buffer against Communism, but as a bulwark against the expanding threat of militant Islamism that threatens the Middle East and Europe.
The Islamist Expansion
Israel once again stands on the front lines of a global struggle threatening Western civilization.
Iran’s regime and its network of Islamist militias, from Lebanon to Yemen, seek to dominate the region and undermine Western influence.
Over the years, Tehran has extended its reach through proxy control of several Arab capitals, fueling instability across the Middle East.
Iranian-backed groups now threaten vital shipping routes through the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Aden, with the potential to strangle global trade and energy supplies.
The Houthi attacks in Yemen underscore this danger. As pro-Western Arab states grow increasingly vulnerable, Israel remains the one democratic ally in the region capable of defending Western interests with military strength and reliability.
Unlike autocratic regimes that can shift allegiance overnight, Israel’s democratic system guarantees enduring alignment with the United States. It is the only Middle Eastern power whose stability and values are inherently pro-American.
The Intelligence and Defense Alliance
Israel’s contributions to U.S. security are extensive when it comes to intelligence. Israeli intelligence has thwarted countless terrorist plots against Americans worldwide.
In terms of military cooperation, joint research, cybersecurity cooperation, and weapons development programs, particularly the integration and combat testing of U.S. F-35 fighters, have significantly strengthened American defense capabilities.
The F-35 partnership alone more than repays the $3.5 billion in annual U.S. aid, providing unparalleled real-world testing and intelligence.
Israel’s operational data, gathered from engagements with advanced air-defense systems, enhances America’s own preparedness and technological edge.
Through this collaboration, the U.S. projects deterrence in the Middle East without deploying its own troops, saving billions, precisely the kind of strategic leverage that Ronald Reagan once envisioned.
Recognizing the Israeli Asset, Once Again!
In confronting Iran and the broader Islamist threat, one truth stands firm: Israel is not merely a strategic ally; it is a cornerstone of American security. Its military, intelligence, and democratic stability make it indispensable to Western strategy.
Israel’s airfields and facilities provide secure regional access for U.S. forces in emergencies. Its intelligence apparatus gives Washington unmatched insight into regional dynamics.
And its military strength shields both America’s allies and, ultimately, America itself.
It is time, once again, to recognize Israel for what it truly is, a vital strategic asset of the United States, a partner in freedom, and the first line of defense for the civilized world.
Joel Gilbert is a Los Angeles-based film producer and president of Highway 61 Entertainment. He is the producer of the new film Roseanne Barr Is America. He is also the producer of: Dreams from My Real Father, The Trayvon Hoax, Trump: The Art of the Insult, and many other films on American politics and music icons. Gilbert is on Twitter: @JoelSGilbert.
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