Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli who was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza for 584 days, was just released to Israel and welcomed by his family in a deal brokered between the Trump administration and Hamas. It took place without Israel’s known participation. The 21-year-old who was born in Tel Aviv and raised in New Jersey was the only living dual American-Israeli citizen still being held captive in the Gaza Strip, where dozens of other hostages remain, about 20 presumed to be alive.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s trip for meetings this week in the Middle East, without a stop in Israel, took many by surprise. The Saudis lavishly greeted the president upon his arrival amid reports that a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel has been separated from a nuclear-energy cooperation deal between the Saudis and Americans. Trump’s meeting with the Saudi ruler has been reported to include leaders of the Palestinian Authority, Syria and Lebanon.
These discussions and others raise significant questions among Israelis, Diaspora Jews and their supporters about policy changes in the U.S.-Israel relationship. The president also accepted the gift of a Qatari luxury jumbo jet to temporarily serve as Air Force One, a move criticized by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who said, “I’m not flying on a Qatari plane. They support Hamas.”
Amid the region’s constant storm of uncertainty, the enduring alliance between America and Israel is a critical anchor—a partnership forged over decades of shared values and strategic interests. This firm bond has withstood political leadership changes and evolving regional realities, providing an important foundation for navigating new challenges.
Historic Partnership: ‘Shared kinship, traditions and values’
The U.S.-Israel relationship is rooted in shared democratic ideals, deep cultural connections and a mutual commitment to security. America and Israel hold joint military training exercises involving thousands of troops, numerous state and local trade delegations visit Israel to increase exports and U.S. tech giants, including Intel, Google and Microsoft, benefit from significant investments in Israeli research and development.
The alliance has traditionally transcended political cycles and been recognized as strategically vital by Democrats and Republicans. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.): “The U.S.-Israel relationship is an unbreakable bond whose durability will stand the test of time.” Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a Republican, said: “Israel is a country with whom we have so many ties of kinship, of tradition and of values.”
Gaza: Hope amid hostage crisis
The release of American-Israeli hostage Alexander brought a glimmer of hope in the struggle for the return of the remaining hostages. Hamas presented his release as a goodwill gesture towards Trump without conditions for America and Israel. Still, Hamas refuses to relinquish its control, even though an increasing number of Gazans want it removed from power, and Israel vows to continue its security operations until all hostages are released and Hamas is disarmed. Dozens of family, friends and supporters of the Alexander family rallied in Tenafly, N.J., on May 12 to celebrate his release. Trump has again called for the release of all the hostages, an end to war and increased deliveries of humanitarian aid.
The Houthis: Limited truce, persistent threats
A recently brokered ceasefire between the United States and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen focused on halting attacks on American ships traveling in the Red Sea. Israel was left out of the agreement, which was reached on May 6, two days after the Houthis struck Ben-Gurion International Airport with a ballistic missile.
America recently pounded Houthi targets in airstrikes aimed at degrading their ability to attack this key international shipping route. The terror group has explicitly stated that its hostility towards Israel remains unchanged, and it is still attacking Israel. A bipartisan group of U.S. representatives “expressed serious concern that the agreement leaves Israel dangerously vulnerable and fails to confront the broader threat posed by Iran’s proxy network.”
Syria: Trump may offer a ‘fresh start’
The recent toppling of Iranian-backed Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and the rise of a new government have prompted a reassessment of U.S. policies. Trump stated he is considering lifting sanctions on Syria to support the new leadership and provide the country with a “fresh start,” remarks that were welcomed by Syria’s new leaders. The government is led by an Islamist paramilitary group that was formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda, the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. Treasury Department has already eased some sanctions to facilitate essential services. However, comprehensive sanctions against Syria remain in effect because of human-rights abuses and its support for terrorism.
Amid the shifting political landscape, Israel has been supporting the Syrian Druze community. The Syrian government is persecuting and attacking this small religious minority; more than 120 civilians were killed in one recent attack. A Druze woman reported: “We fled from our home because I feared for my baby. We are receiving humanitarian aid from Israel. It’s heartwarming to see such compassion and unity.” About 150,000 Druze live in Israel, and many have become decorated military heroes and served in Israel’s parliament. The Israeli Defense Forces recently flew in supplies and set up a medical facility in southern Syria to treat victims.
Iran: Regional threat with nuclear ambitions
Iran’s nuclear-weapons program is a dangerous threat to a regime that routinely calls for the annihilation of Big Satan and Little Satan: America and Israel. Iran’s religious leaders provide funds, weapons and training for its proxy groups, including the Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran constantly evades international inspections of its nuclear program. Trump restored a “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran’s regime earlier this year to “deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon and counter its malign influence abroad.”
Now, Trump is indirectly negotiating with Iran—Oman is mediating—and stated that he is willing to meet with Iran’s supreme leader. While reports are swirling over whether or not Iran would have to dismantle parts of its nuclear program, Congressional Republicans are calling for “the complete dismantlement and destruction of Iran’s entire nuclear program.” Israelis, as well as American Jews who fled Iran as a result of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, are worried about the negotiations legitimizing the regime and allowing Iran to retain its nuclear program.
U.S.-Israel alliance: ‘STRONG partnership’
Where all of this leads is unclear. Both the Trump and Netanyahu administrations stated that while there may be policy disagreements, there is no rift. Working to ease some of the concerns, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who is a longtime supporter of Israel, continues to emphasize the enduring nature of the shared bond between America and Israel: “I say to people, ‘Relax, calm down, Donald Trump loves you, there’s no doubt about that, he’s got your back.’ Israel doesn’t have a better friend. The partnership is STRONG.”
Points to consider:
- American bipartisan support of Israel remains strong.
The alliance between the United States and Israel is resilient, and it transcends political shifts and partisan divides, regardless of which leaders are elected in Washington and Jerusalem. Bipartisan cooperation has enabled both countries to navigate global challenges by sharing vitally important information with each other—from counterterrorism efforts to advancing scientific research, security and technology. A united front enables both nations to face international challenges effectively, reaffirming that the U.S.-Israel relationship is not bound by political cycles. Shared democratic values, goals and strategic interests are essential to the long-term security and prosperity of both nations.
- Strong U.S.-Israel partnership provides mutual benefits.
There is a misconception that Israel is the sole beneficiary of this alliance. Israeli innovation yields significant advantages for Americans and helps boost the U.S. economy. Israel’s advanced water-management technologies are increasingly valuable to drought-affected regions like California and Arizona. Israeli defense technology contributes to the protection of American troops, and the two nations collaborate closely on cybersecurity, safeguarding critical infrastructure in both countries. Additional partnerships in research, health care and technology clearly demonstrate the reciprocal nature of this relationship.
- Key alliance promotes regional peace.
The Abraham Accords, facilitated by the United States in 2020, reflect a longstanding commitment to Middle Eastern peace, building on earlier successes such as the Israel-Egypt and Israel-Jordan peace treaties. The normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco have fostered new economic partnerships—trade, tourism and technological innovation—and led to interfaith dialogue and cultural exchange that are advancing shared regional prosperity. Peaceful ties and regional collaboration on security and counterterrorism create a safer environment for American interests. The accords prove that the U.S.-Israel partnership promotes regional peace.