Is Israel a US state?
The media and analytical center posed the question, “Has Israel transformed from an independent state into something like a state in the informal American empire?” Although this relationship is generally known as a “strategic partnership,” evidence shows that the level of dependence of the Israeli regime on the United States has increased to such an extent that it can be considered a modern form of strategic subjection. A structural examination of these relations shows that Israel has become a state with limited capacity for independent decision-making, especially in the field of foreign and security policy.
According to the National Interest, the first and most important indicator of this dependence is the financial and military aid of the United States to Israel, which receives about $3.8 billion in military aid from Washington annually. This aid is not only economic, but through it, Israel’s defense and military industries have been deeply integrated into the US military-industrial chain. Key decisions on arms purchases and war strategy are not made unilaterally in Tel Aviv, but are shaped after coordination with Washington. This has significantly reduced Israel’s military freedom of action.
The report states: Beyond the financial dimension, a more fundamental dependency is that Israel’s diplomatic isolation in international forums is compensated almost exclusively by American support. In the UN Security Council, the International Criminal Court, and other multilateral institutions, Israel relies on US vetoes, pressure, and diplomatic cover to avoid condemnation or sanctions. Without this support, a level of isolation would be imposed on Israel that would fundamentally limit its freedom of action.
Stating that Israel’s diplomatic security is not the result of an independent strategy, but rather a direct result of Washington’s support, the American think tank claimed: This relationship has gradually undermined Israel’s strategic independence and created a legacy resembling classic imperialist relations. Israeli military operations require at least tacit US approval. Major foreign policy initiatives are coordinated and often designed by Washington. Whenever Israel has attempted to act independently—such as expanding settlements or selling arms to China—American pressure has ultimately been decisive and forced it to retreat.
According to this analysis, Tel Aviv is now acting unilaterally and “unilaterally” at a time when US power is on the decline but the world is moving towards multipolarity. This poses the following long-term risks to the regime’s security: limited relations with emerging powers such as China and India, reduced diplomatic skills and overreliance on military force and foreign support, and a weakening of the US position in the region.