Columnist
Israel is not America’s 51st state
While the title seems obvious, it cannot be ignored that many American presidents have tried to dictate the military actions of Israel, even at a time when existential threats were a real and present danger.
One of the many unfortunate circumstances of the October 7 massacre, was that the event happened under the watch of the Biden administration. Consequentially, very early on, Israel was cautioned not to go into certain parts of Gaza.
The length of their incursions as well as the force, used by them, were subjects that drew much criticism from both President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and others, within the administration, who viewed any retaliation as disproportionality.
Of course, that term was never applied to a monstrous attack perpetrated by thousands of Hamas terrorists on unarmed civilians, just waking up on a Shabbat morning. Apparently, the phrase is only useful when the big guns come out to send a message that anyone who attacks our citizens will live to regret it.
But the reaction of the Biden administration was not something new. American presidents have been known to exert great pressure when it comes to matters of war and peace that concern Israel.
Dwight D. Eisenhower is just one example of pressuring Israel to completely withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip in 1957 after the Suez Crisis. Threatening to cut off all assistance and impose sanctions, Israel was forced to comply, without any favorable conditions attached.
Likewise, Gerald Ford stopped arms shipments to Israel, after they refused his directive to make territorial concessions in 1975. When Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was given an ultimatum by Ford, Israel ultimately withdrew from parts of the Sinai.
Surprisingly, in 1982, President Ronald Reagan also expressed great anger over Israel’s decision to bomb Beirut, forcing Prime Minister Menachem Begin to immediately comply. That was followed by pressure to leave Lebanon altogether.
In 1991, President George H.W. Bush, chose to withhold billions in loan guarantees if Israel wouldn’t agree to stop all construction in Judea and Samaria as well as participate in the Madrid Peace Conference.
Who can forget President Barack Obama, often making impossible demands on Israel, like going back to pre-1967 borders, as well as putting the clamps on taking action against Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Obama never hid his obvious dislike of Bibi Netanyahu, publicly expressing his contempt on an open mic with then French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
So that is why Donald J. Trump, long seen as a true friend to Israel, was held with such high regard, believing that any help his administration would render, was on a totally different basis, because he was unlike the others.
Ironically, as tough and obstinate as all his predecessors were, none of them were crass enough to drop the F bomb, on several occasions, when describing both the actions of Israel’s military as well Netanyahu.
The first time it happened in June, 2025, as Israel retaliated for an early-morning, non-stop rocket attack to major Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, resulting in the destruction of many residential buildings which left thousands homeless and many injured.
It was then that he said, “They don’t know what the F*** they are doing.” A post on Truth Social said, “ISRAEL, DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO, IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”
More recently, Axios quoted Trump expressing his intense anger at Prime Minister Netanyahu, stating, “What the F*** are you doing!...You’re F***ing crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving you’re a**. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”
While Trump might get away with that kind of coarse and profane language, when communicating with other American political figures, he cannot make the assumption that speaking with such ill-respect, demeaning a prime minister into following his every command, as if Israel was the 51st state, will be met with any kind of honor.
As an independent and democratic nation, Israel is not the ward of anyone, including those who have, for their own self-interests, chosen to come to the aid of a country whose military, intelligence and technological advances also provide a great service to her close friends and allies.
Any financial benefits, which have been granted to Israel by the U.S., have not exactly come free of charge. Israel shares much vital information and technology with America, mutually working towards peace, tranquility and the furthering of international cooperation, against all perceived threats.
As the old saying goes, “there is no such thing as a free lunch,” and that certainly applies to Israel who has, time and again, had to make many sacrificial concessions, all in the name of preserving our good relations with other nations.
In many tangible ways, Israel has shown its undying gratitude towards the Trump administration, both in the first term and now, for the many overtures the U.S. has made to further our acceptance amidst a world that has been quick to condemn us.
By moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to the nation’s capital of Jerusalem, a strong global message was sent that the U.S. was willing to publicly and formally acknowledge what should have been recognized long ago by many others.
The same was true by initiating the Abraham Accords. Trump’s attempt to gather once hostile nations, to come together and sign an agreement of mutual benefit between Arab nations and Israel, has been an unprecedented act of courage, shown by no others.
Finally, Trump’s understanding of the enormous worldwide threat, posed by Iran, caused him to make the bold and daring move to put an end to their nuclear ambitions, also something that no one preceding him was willing to take on.
All of these actions were appreciated, admired as steps which benefitted, not only Israel, but so many other nations who stood to gain much from America’s boldness, at a moment in time when the clock was ready to strike midnight.
Nonetheless, America should not believe that they are the overlords of Israel who can stop us from defending ourselves when attacks are forthcoming, towards the goal of our annihilation.
Yes, we are ever grateful for our warm and close friendship with the U.S., but it must be remembered that we are not, nor ever will be, the 51st American state!
A former Jerusalem elementary and middle-school principal who made Aliyah in 1993 and became a member of Kibbutz Reim but now lives in the center of the country with her husband. She is the author of Mistake-Proof Parenting, based on the principles from the book of Proverbs - available on Amazon.
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Thanks for sharing. Blessings on your head from the Lord Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach.
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People
Charlotte, NC USA