Are we going to war with Israel?
The possibility of war between the United States and Israel is a topic that has been gaining significant attention recently. With the escalating crisis in the Middle East and the increasingly tense relationship between the two countries, one cannot help but wonder about the likelihood of such an event. In this article, we will explore whether or not we are headed towards war with Israel.
What started the tensions?
Recently, the United States began to re-evaluate its relationship with Israel due to the annexation of the West Bank by Israel. This movement has been met with swift condemnation from the international community, with many countries issuing warnings against the annexation. The United States joined the chorus of condemnation initially, but relations took a turn for the worse when the trump administration announced that settlements in the West Bank are okay.
This decision saw the United States moving dramatically away from its long-term commitment to a two-state solution and towards taking Israel’s side more openly. Diplomatic efforts to revive deadlocked peace talks have broken down, and the West Bank has become a pressing concern.
Escalating violence
Another matter of concern is the sudden increase in violence between rival groups in the region including Israeli settlers, who have been attacking Palestinians amid a surge in violence ahead of the annexation timetable. This escalation risks destabilizing the region entirely.
The threat perception
From the perspective of Israel, the protection of its security through annexation is deeply connected to its own protection and the protection of Americans in the region. Since the 1970’s, Israel has had reciprocal military assistance agreements with countries such as the United states. The miller bill, which grants $38 billion to us defense and security aid of Israel over the upcoming decade, is expected to increase to take account of the rising missile threat from Iran and possibly Hezbollah (Hizbullah: the militant group that took control of Lebanon in ’85).
Iran involvement
The Iran, with its proxymilitia such as Hezbollah and possibly Islamic State, holds the potential for aggression against Israel. An Israeli attack on IRAN could potentially, and accidentally unleash a world-Wide war.
Meanwhile, the unconditional support of the United Kingdom and France has emboldened Israel in undertaking annexation. This trio – the UK; France; and Israel, is often referred to as“ The Three Muskateers**” because no one else seems to appreciate their interests.
Hawks and Doves differ
In the United States, there are contrasting opinions on the situation of war with Israel. At the forefront of this ongoing debate are hawks-and-doves.
MILITARY INTERVIEWERS
DID WE EVER REALLY NEED BULLETS TO SAY WHAT WE MEAN – THAT WE WERE NEVER SERIOUS ABOUT A LASTING PEACE WITHIN ISRAEL
BULLET POINTS OF US AID TO ISrael:
• $123.7 billion in pledged military aid between1998 and 2010
• $19.5 billion and $3.78 billion in aid already pledged between 2014 and 2029(See table below)
The US pledged US$3.8billiion to boost military aid to Israel yearly.
