I agree with your big point, and would add two points that might sand off the edges a bit. First, I think our reasons for supporting Israel have evolved, notwithstanding your point about our national emotional ties (which I agree with). Early on, the Soviet Union supported Israel because they perceived it as anti-colonial (vs. the British), which is hugely ironic considering the debate on some of our elite campuses. But the Russkies (can we go back to saying that?) shifted once they realized that the British Empire was no longer the Great Power they needed to impose. At some level, that turned Israel into a Cold War battleground state -- once the Soviets started arming Syria and Egypt, we had a hard power reason to support Israel that had not existed in the immediate aftermath of 1948. Second, today Israel is an incredibly powerful economic, technological, and military power in its own right, and (since we decapitated Iraq) is the only power in the region that can check Iran, which has profound neo-imperial aspirations. So while I share the emotional attachment to Israel of many Americans, in 2023 they are a key player on the team that stands athwart Iran-Russia-China. They are again an essential proxy.
Interesting argument. I never thought I would see a critique of materialism through the worldview of American support for Israel. Excellent work.
I agree with your big point, and would add two points that might sand off the edges a bit. First, I think our reasons for supporting Israel have evolved, notwithstanding your point about our national emotional ties (which I agree with). Early on, the Soviet Union supported Israel because they perceived it as anti-colonial (vs. the British), which is hugely ironic considering the debate on some of our elite campuses. But the Russkies (can we go back to saying that?) shifted once they realized that the British Empire was no longer the Great Power they needed to impose. At some level, that turned Israel into a Cold War battleground state -- once the Soviets started arming Syria and Egypt, we had a hard power reason to support Israel that had not existed in the immediate aftermath of 1948. Second, today Israel is an incredibly powerful economic, technological, and military power in its own right, and (since we decapitated Iraq) is the only power in the region that can check Iran, which has profound neo-imperial aspirations. So while I share the emotional attachment to Israel of many Americans, in 2023 they are a key player on the team that stands athwart Iran-Russia-China. They are again an essential proxy.