Is Israel Good for America?

Some weeks ago in these pages Joseph Sobran threw down the gauntlet: “I would like to hear arguments for the strategic advantages to the U.S. of close alliance with Israel from someone other than the partisans of Israel itself.” I am, I confess, a partisan. But anyone convinced of the strategic benefits of closeness to Israel is bound to become a partisan of Israel’s. Logically, however, the strength of the case is not dependent on the identity or predisposition of the advocate.

Israel traditionally has been a liberal cause. American Jews, always the core though never the entirety of pro-Israel sentiment in this country, have long been aligned in their majority on the liberal side of the spectrum. Gentile enthusiasts for Israel have often been those attracted to its powerful labor movement and socialistic experiments.

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Some weeks ago in these pages Joseph Sobran threw down the gauntlet: “I would like to hear arguments for the strategic advantages to the U.S. of close alliance with Israel from someone other than the partisans of Israel itself.” I am, I confess, a partisan. But anyone convinced of the strategic benefits of closeness to Israel is bound to become a partisan of Israel’s. Logically, however, the strength of the case is not dependent on the identity or predisposition of the advocate.

Israel traditionally has been a liberal cause. American Jews, always the core though never the entirety of pro-Israel sentiment in this country, have long been aligned in their majority on the liberal side of the spectrum. Gentile enthusiasts for Israel have often been those attracted to its powerful labor movement and socialistic experiments.