Please Stop Saying Israel Is an “Ally” of the United States — It Is Not.

Israel is not an ally, not even a “strategic asset”. In fact, Israel is a strategic liability, an intelligence adversary and a black hole for US aid money.

Merriam Webster defines the word ally as “a sovereign or state associated with another by treaty or league”.

The United States has many allies, both by treaty (such as South Korea) and by league (such as NATO). Israel, however, is not among them.

In fact, there is no agreement between the US and Israel regarding defense. U.S.-Israel bilateral economic relations are codified in a number of treaties and agreements, including the 1985 U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), but there is no treaty in place to deal with defense.

And yet, Americans are convinced that Israel is our “staunchest ally”. Many seem to still believe what Alexander Haig, President Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of State, famously quipped:

“Israel is the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk, does not carry even one American soldier, and is located in a critical region for American national security.”