The American-Israeli alliance was neither inevitable nor automatic. It has been built over time on a deep-rooted conviction among a majority of the American public that Israel and the United States share fundamental values: democracy, pluralism, and belief in individual liberty. But it was not about values alone. The alliance also stabilized Common strategic interests Especially in the context of the Cold War, when Israel was increasingly seen in Washington as a counterweight to Soviet-backed forces in the Middle East. Strategic interests and the American perception of cultural affinity reinforced each other, giving the relationship unusual durability.
Uncertainty, integration and post-war transformation
The history of Jews in the United States dates back to the 17th century. However, for most of that history, so were the Jews He looks at her with suspicion They faced various forms of discrimination. Openly anti-Semitic organizations operated, and social exclusion remained common into the twentieth century.
The turning point came after World War II, which ended in 1945. Anti-Semitism was discredited because of its association with the Nazi enemy. At the same time, Jewish participation in the US armed forces brought millions of American soldiers into direct contact with their Jewish compatriots, Replace inherited bias with personal familiarity. In the decades that followed, Jews became increasingly visible in American public life—culturally, academically, and politically—expressing their identity more openly than was possible before the war.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Jewish involvement was very visible in the civil rights movement and in efforts to dismantle segregation. Although this visibility came at a cost, as Jewish activists were targeted by white supremacists in the American South, participation in the struggle against racism continued. Jewish voices were also prominent in opposition to the Vietnam War, to the point that the US president at the time, Lyndon Johnson, reportedly expressed frustration at what he saw as strong Jewish opposition, contrasting it with support for Israel.
By the mid-1960s, American Jews were largely integrated into the fabric of American society. However, integration alone did not automatically translate into a deep strategic bond between Washington and Jerusalem. Israel was not considered a close ally under the Eisenhower or Kennedy administrations, as both were suspicious of former Israeli Prime Minister Ben-Gurion, and generally maintained a calm stance toward Israel.
1967: The strategic and emotional turning point
The 1967 Six-Day War between Israel and a coalition of Arab states, primarily Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, marked a decisive turning point.
At a time when the United States was mired in Vietnam and facing expanding Soviet influence in Europe and the Middle East, Israel defeated the Soviet-backed Arab armies in just six days. The speed and scale of this victory Reshaping perceptions in Washington. Israel was no longer seen primarily as a weak state seeking protection, but rather as a regional power capable of effectively rolling back Soviet influence in the Middle East.
At the same time, 1967 changed the emotional landscape of American Jews. For many American Jews, war produced A new sense of familiarity and belonging to Israel. What was once a distant country has become central to communal identity. This shift has strengthened political support and deepened the sense that the fate of Israel and American Jewish identity are intertwined.
Now geopolitical alignment and sectarian identity are mutually reinforcing. The alliance was not based only on strategic calculations, but also on a broad American perception of common interests and common values.
Fractions within and outside the Jewish community
We are now witnessing the beginning of the erosion of this alliance. War crimes committed by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon Over the past two decades Breaking the American perception Common culture and common principles. The assumption of automatic moral conformity has been weakened.
This fraction became first Visible within parts of the American Jewish communityespecially between younger Jews, Identification with Israel is no longer as instinctive or unquestionable as it once was. From there, it spread, and continues to spread, into broader American society, especially among young voters.
From national consensus to political polarization
On the surface, with the United States and Israel waging a joint war against Iran, the alliance appears strong, but in the current war with Iran, Israel is increasingly seen as dragging the United States into conflicts that are not its own, wars that serve the interests of Israel and its hardline government. Polls indicate so Only 25% of Americans supported the war In his early days.
This is what is on the minds of many Americans The war became closely linked to two political figures: Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump. Both are deeply polarizing figures, especially among young voters, who have faced, and continue to face, in different ways, Corruption allegations or Legal audit. This connection shapes the way Israel itself is viewed by a larger population that supports it.
Netanyahu’s efforts to weaken judicial constraints inside Israel, his reliance on far-right coalition partners, and the racist tone embraced by some members of his cabinet do not fit comfortably with the democratic image that once strengthened the US-Israel alliance. to Liberal American Jewswhose collective memory includes fighting apartheid, racism, and authoritarian tendencies in the 1950s and 1960s, this alignment is particularly troubling.
Narrow base: Christian Zionism
Perhaps the clearest indication of the weakness of the American-Israeli alliance is the increasing dependence of parts of the American political system on power. Christian Zionist support. This represents a narrowing of the coalition base.
Christian Zionism is rooted in a literal reading of the Bible and an apocalyptic understanding of history. At its theological core, it is not a pro-Jewish doctrine, but rather a framework within which Jewish sovereignty serves the Christian eschatological narrative. The ultimate horizon of this narrative is not Jewish continuity, but transformation or destruction. Its support for Israel is therefore an essential tool, an integral part of a prophetic vision of the end times.
The institution of the alliance has been eroded
The American-Israeli alliance was stronger when it was based on two pillars: broad American popular support and rapprochement with Israel on the one hand, and the perception that the alliance serves American interests and advances American goals on the other hand. Today, we may be witnessing a rapid disintegration of that foundation. Israel is no longer viewed as favorably in the United States as it once was. The destruction of Gaza has made many Americans either opposed to Israel or reluctant to engage with it. War with Iran is widely viewed as clearly not serving core American interests.
The two pillars that have supported the alliance since 1967 are beginning to crack. Alliances endure when they have broad civil legitimacy; They weaken when they become tied to polarized leaders, party identity, or narrow ideological bases. What was achieved through convergence between perception and attention may now be undone through misalignment.
Any opinions or ideas expressed in this article do not reflect the views of the Egyptian Streets editorial team. To submit an opinion piece, please email [email protected]