Analysis: The Israeli ‘force-multiplier’ factor in US military strength

Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, writing for Arutz Sheva, argues that the US-Israel relationship functions as a strategic partnership where Israel acts as a 'force-multiplier' for Washington, securing US interests without requiring American combat troops on the ground. Citing historian Prof. Walter Russell Mead, Ettinger posits that Israel did not grow strong because of its American alliance, but rather acquired the alliance because it had already grown strong. The analysis suggests that Israel bolsters US national security by hosting research and development centers for major American tech firms and providing critical intelligence. Ettinger highlights historical Israeli military actions, such as the 1981 destruction of Iraq's nuclear reactor and the 2007 strike on a Syrian nuclear facility, as events that spared the US from potential nuclear confrontations. The report further claims that by systematically engaging Iranian proxies, Israel has degraded threats to US military installations in the Middle East and served as a battle-tested laboratory for advanced US military systems and counter-terrorism tactics.