The 'Israel controls America' myth has a long history - and an antisemitic foundation - opinion

Micha Danzig argues that the claim 'Israel controls America' is an antisemitic myth with a long history, tracing it from Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh to modern figures like Tucker Carlson. He compares Israel's role in the U.S.-Iran war to other junior allies who were never accused of controlling the U.S. government, concluding that the double standard reveals the myth's antisemitic foundation.

In an opinion piece published on November 13, 2026, Micha Danzig argues that the claim 'Israel controls America' is rooted in antisemitism and has no basis in historical fact. Danzig compares Israel's role in the recent U.S.-Iran war to that of other junior allies in American coalition warfare, such as Britain in World War I, Kuwait in the Gulf War, and South Korea in the Korean War, none of whom were accused of controlling the U.S. government. He traces the myth to historical figures like Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh, who blamed Jews for wars, and notes that the IHRA definition of antisemitism explicitly includes the belief that Jews collectively control governments. The article asserts that America had its own reasons to fight Iran, including the hostage crisis and attacks by Iranian proxies, and that Israel has never had American combat soldiers fighting alongside it. Danzig concludes that the 'Israel made us do it' argument is a recycled antisemitic trope.