Naftali Bennett: Why the U.S.-Israel Alliance Matters
· Time
Two hundred and fifty years ago, a small group of visionaries put their names to a document that changed the world. They declared, against the verdict of history and the weight of empire, that all men are created equal—endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They were not certain they would prevail. Most of the world doubted them. And yet they built something that has endured for two and a half centuries, inspiring and lasting. A nation of immigrants became a role model for democracy and prosperity worldwide.
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Mazal tov, America.
This legacy goes through my veins, as I was born to American parents myself. As an Israeli, I read those founding words with a particular reverence. The Jewish people know what it means to carry an ideal across centuries of hardship, to believe in a future that has not yet arrived, and to build something lasting on the other side of adversity. It is perhaps no coincidence that from Israel’s very beginning, both countries recognized something familiar in each other—not merely an ally, but a kindred spirit.
The bond between our two nations did not begin with the Iran war. It will not end when this war is over. It is older and deeper than any single point in history. We shall always cherish the moment when American soldiers arrived at the gates of Auschwitz. When David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel's independence on May 14, 1948, it was the United States, led by the courageous and clear-eyed Harry Truman, that extended recognition within minutes. That act toward a people reborn in their ancient homeland set the tone for everything that followed.
In the decades since, the United States has stood by Israel in its darkest hours and its most triumphant ones. Military partnerships preserved our ability to defend ourselves. Diplomatic steadfastness helped us in the face of international pressure. Shared intelligence has neutralized threats to us and the entire free world. Our scholars, scientists, and engineers have partnered across disciplines. For all of this, Israel is grateful. Deeply, genuinely, enduringly grateful.
Now, under President Donald Trump's leadership, the United States has pursued a Middle East policy that dares to imagine something genuinely new: a region in which Iran's destructive influence is constrained, the axis of violence and intimidation is weakened, and a moderate, forward-looking coalition of nations can finally raise its head. The Abraham Accords, led by President Trump, were the opening chapter. What we see today—the effort to build a broad regional security and economic reality—embodied by visions like the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor, is the next one. This revised architecture can help create a new future for the region that gave the world all Monotheistic religions. And this will also be the task of the next Israeli leadership. It is ambitious. It is historic. And Israel is not a bystander in this vision. We are one of its cornerstones.
This is exactly why Israel is not a burden to American foreign policy. It is one of its greatest assets. When American forces in the region need reliable intelligence, Israel delivers. When American companies seek world-class innovation partners, Israeli startups answer the call. Our militaries train together. Our scientists collaborate. Our shared values run deeper than any treaty. This is a partnership of equals—not in the size of our populations, but in the depth of our commitments.
I will not pretend this friendship has always been without friction. Partnerships between nations, like those between people, encounter disagreements. There have been differences of perspective, candid conversations, and moments of tension. That is normal. That is, in fact, a mark of genuine friendship—the willingness to speak honestly and to work through difficulty rather than around it. What has never wavered is the underlying foundation: the recognition that when it matters most, the United States and Israel stand together.
What concerns me—and I believe it should concern every American leader—is a troubling trend in public opinion, particularly among younger Americans. Surveys show growing skepticism about Israel among the next generation of U.S. citizens. I do not believe this reflects their true values. American young people are, overwhelmingly, decent and justice-seeking. This is not merely Israel's problem. It is America's problem, too. In my opinion, the same forces working to delegitimize Israel are working to undermine the Western alliance, democratic institutions, and American leadership itself. Countering this shift is a shared responsibility—and an urgent one.
The good news is that truth is resilient. The friendship between our two nations is not built on illusion. It is built on decades of shared sacrifice, shared achievement, and shared purpose. It has survived wars, recessions, and the tests of time. It will survive this as well.
When I look ahead to the next 50 years—and allow myself to imagine the 300th anniversary of American independence—I see a Middle East that has moved, however imperfectly, toward stability and coexistence. I see an Israel that has grown in strength and confidence, contributing to regional peace and to global progress. And I see the United States, still the indispensable nation, still the great democracy the founders envisioned—with Israel proudly at its side.