Israel owes the United States deep gratitude - not its very existence | Zaki Shalom

Prof. Zaki Shalom argues that Israel owes the United States gratitude, but not its very existence. He responds to Trump's comments in a "60 Minutes" interview, emphasizing that Israel must maintain independent defense capabilities while strengthening the alliance with the U.S.

Prof. Zaki Shalom argues that Israel owes the United States deep gratitude, but not its very existence. The article responds to President Donald Trump's comments in a "60 Minutes" interview, in which he linked U.S. protection of other countries to his demand for reimbursement of war costs, and mentioned Israel in the same context. Shalom warns that this portrayal of Israel as a country whose very existence depends on Trump's goodwill damages its status, encourages its enemies, and accustoms its friends to see it as a burden. He emphasizes that partnership is not ownership, and that Israel must maintain independent operational and decision-making capabilities while strengthening the alliance with the U.S. The article proposes a respectful and clear Israeli response to the president, stressing that the responsibility for Israel's defense rests solely with it, and that anyone considering its destruction must know that they risk their own existence.