Israel: Washington's Most Profitable Deal

Maj. Gen. (res.) Eitan Ben-Eliyahu argues in an opinion piece that the alliance with Israel is a strategic asset for the US, unlike other regions where American troops were deployed. He calls for a gradual shift from military to technological cooperation and warns against a sudden political change in the aid framework.

Maj. Gen. (res.) Eitan Ben-Eliyahu, former commander of the Israeli Air Force, argues in an opinion piece that the alliance between Israel and the United States is not a favor but a strategic asset for both sides. He reviews the history of the relationship, from Truman's recognition in 1948 to the annual military aid today, and emphasizes that unlike Korea and Vietnam, the US did not have to send troops to Israel, only equipment. He warns against a dramatic change in the aid framework and calls for a gradual transition to technological cooperation and joint production. The article stresses that Israel must remain America's forward front in the Middle East.