The withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, and consequently, the spread of radical Islam in the Middle East will change the region as we know it, no matter how willing the United States is to cooperate with Israel to prevent this.
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In 1964, then-Prime Minister Levi Eshkol traveled to Washington for the first time after taking office and was greeted by then-President Lyndon Johnson with an affectionate embrace.
You see, Johnson wanted to strengthen Eshkol's international status to support the newly-elected prime minister who had gotten into a heated confrontation back at home with his reputable predecessor, David Ben-Gurion. Johnson was even willing to turn a blind eye to a dispute between Washington and Jerusalem at the time – over Israel's Dimona nuclear reactor – which had been a hotbed of friction between Ben-Gurion and US President John F. Kennedy.
Similarly, 57 years later, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has arrived for his first official visit to the United States when, paradoxically, as in the case of Eshkol, his power lies precisely in his weakness back at home.
US President Joe Biden's desire to prevent former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from returning to power defined the nature of Bennett's visit in advance. From the outset, it was going to be a political and media success. In other words, Washington invited Bennett in order to grant him legitimacy as the new leader of the Israeli government after the questionable manner he came into power.
Netanyahu's visits to the White House often involved disagreements and disputes over core issues between him and former President Barack Obama. Whereas Bennett's visit to Washington is cordial and affectionate, resembling more of a honeymoon.
Moreover, since Bennett is seemingly presenting a less resolute stance on the Iranian nuclear threat than Netanyahu did, his talks with Biden have become an open and friendly strategic dialogue between two partners, in which the Palestinian issue is viewed within a broad and consensual regional context.
Israel has positioned itself as a key player, ready to assist the formation of a broad Middle East Alliance (with Jordan, Egypt, and later states of the Abraham Accords) to counterweigh Iran and its proxies, regardless of whether Washington will be able to renew the nuclear deal with Tehran.
However, one aspect remains crucial for the formation of such a regional alliance – a strategic safety net provided by the US. Thursday's bloodbath in Kabul could shift the situation, and lead to even more disengagement on behalf of the American patron – potentially undermining all chances of an alliance.
If the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan leads to an accelerated withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and Syria as well, then no matter how willing the White House is to increase security cooperation with Israel – it will never be able to quell the spread of radical Israel in the Middle East.
Smiles, hugs, and even promises of assistance are no substitute to a type of American presence in the region that is in no hurry to leave, no matter the cost.
In reality, Israel is no longer a central priority for Washington, and Biden postponing his meeting with Bennett on Thursday is an indication of that.
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