Strategic Assessment

The United States and Israel have conflicting interests on how to handle the region’s current challenges, and these differences are eroding the special relationship that has historically prevailed between the two countries. This essay proposes a joint regional strategy for the two countries resting on several anchors, including: mutual consideration by Israel and the United States of each other’s regional interests; fortification of the existing peace agreements between Israel and its neighbors – which are also a basis for promoting regional security initiatives with the Sunni Arab states; a commitment by Israel to an effort to renew negotiations with the Palestinians; and reinforcement of the defense agreements between the two countries. This strategy will help Israel and the United States deal with the challenges in the Middle East with coordinated use of regional levers, and will also reflect improved bilateral relations, grounded in more than 50 years of cooperation and shared achievements.