Stop blaming Israel for America's decisions- opinion
Gabriel Cutler argues that blaming Israel for America's foreign policy decisions, particularly the Iran war and the Republican midterm defeat, is a scapegoating narrative that ignores Washington's sovereign responsibility. He contends the US-Israel relationship is fundamentally asymmetric, with Washington holding far greater power, and that Israel cannot dictate American strategic choices.
Gabriel Cutler argues that the narrative blaming Israel for America's foreign policy failures, particularly the Iran war and the Republican midterm defeat, is a convenient scapegoat. He contends that the United States, as a global superpower, cannot claim to be at the mercy of a small, dependent ally like Israel. Cutler emphasizes that while Israel can advocate for its interests, Washington ultimately makes its own sovereign decisions and must accept responsibility for them. He cites historical examples of US pressure on Israel, such as Eisenhower's 1956 Sinai withdrawal demand and Obama's Iran nuclear deal, to illustrate the power imbalance. The piece criticizes the logical fallacy of inferring Israeli control from policy alignment and warns that the scapegoating narrative risks becoming self-reinforcing.