The United States shares a common vision with Israel through the lens of economic prosperity, commitment to democracy, and regional security. The shared values mean that their partnership and relationship have been growing strong over the years. As the designated Ambassador, there is a need to submit a current assessment of Israel to offer noble recommendations to the U.S. government on various parameters that determine the viability of the established relationships.
Israel: Country Profile
Due to resource constraints, Israel views itself as a knowledge-exporting economy, and its scientific and technical prowess has gained global prominence. There, Hebrew is the predominant language, and Jerusalem is the capital. Israel has a total land area of 22,072 km2, with the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee accounting for the remaining 2%. 64.7 percent of the terrain consists of features such as rocks, bushes, and excavations. Twenty percent of the land is devoted to agriculture, 5.6 percent to construction, 7.3 percent to trees and parks, and 2.4 percent to water. The country’s population is constantly rising and changing in composition. Israel will have an expected population of 8,628,600 in 2020, with Jews comprising 74.7% of the population, Arabs 20.8%, and other people 4.5%. The anticipated population growth was forecast to be 2.0%. Between the country’s inception and 2020, an estimated 3,2 million immigrants are scheduled to come, including 26,000 in 2019. In 2019, 16,700 people left the nation, while 8,500 Israelis returned. In 2017, the nation’s GDP was $350.9 billion. (Saban et al., 2022). The nation has a male life expectancy of 80.7% and a female life expectancy of 84.2%, and its health care system receives 7.4% of GDP. The infant mortality rate is 3.1% per 1,000 births. Covid 19 was associated with around 20% of fatalities in 2020. 61.1% of individuals of working age (defined as 15 and older) are employed; men account for 65.9% of the labor force, while women account for 56.4%. 41% of agricultural output, composed of 59% plant crops, consists of animals and animal products. 7.8 percent of the economy comprises educational expenditures (Israel: Country Data and Statistics, 2020).
Accessibility to Institutions
The Ministries of Education, Industry, and Trade, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Defense, and Immigration, along with the Ministerial Committee for Science and Technology, make up the administrative bodies. The science and technology committee is located in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. This Board is in charge of formulating and approving regulations about civil research policy. As a result, it frequently talks with the National Research and Development Council and the top scientists in the country. A leading scientist directs the research and development activities in each government agency. Defense-related matters are handled by the Ministry of Defense, including funding for research projects in the field. All men are required to serve in the military. Hence many of the nation’s technologically skilled workers spend their formative years in the military. The notion indicates that most tech startup founders have military backgrounds (Baylis, 2020). The Ministry of Agriculture engages in R&D through the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), with the Ministry of Science and Technology principally influencing ARO’s roles and responsibilities for the Scientific Research Strategy. The Ministry of Science and Technology is critical in the country’s scientific research strategy. Israel’s agriculture industry has gained widespread recognition and acclaim for its incredible ability to grow and export an abundance of food despite the vast majority of its territory being desert. The institutions have a favorable opinion of the American operating system because they consider it to be inextricably tied to the kind of creativity and innovation that can increase living standards in the future.
The theory demonstrates that shared future paths are consistent with the objectives of vision 2030. Different perspectives on the United States are interwoven. The Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Chief Scientist Office serves as the principal financing body for publicly financed research. The stance is that the ministry of industry and commerce must allocate funding for intended industrial endeavors. Any government’s Ministry of Immigration and Absorption is essential because of its role in integrating highly educated foreigners. 20% of the population comprises immigrants, but 50% of the tech industry’s labor is (Debowy et al., 2021).
Israel Political System
A democracy built on parliamentary democracy ideals is the form of government Israel has chosen. The Prime Minister is the head of state and the most senior official in charge of the several political parties that make up the system. The central government, referred to as the cabinet, directly exercises the nation’s executive authority. The science and technology committee is located in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. This Board is in charge of formulating and approving regulations about civil research policy. As a result, it frequently talks with the National Research and Development Council and the top scientists in the country. Each agency within the government has a Chief Scientist on staff (Lerman & Parliament, 2021).
Israel Foreign Policy through the Lens of the Global and International System
The foreign policies of governments worldwide are significantly influenced by American foreign policy and will remain so. Foreign aid is a tactic the United States utilizes to exert influence over and compel compliance from other nations. The United States has spent decades attempting to spread democracy worldwide, but many Middle Eastern nations have greeted the idea with skepticism and even hostility. Insurgencies arose in places like Iraq and Lebanon as a direct result of U.S. policy in the Middle East, which included applying pressure to nations that did not uphold democratic principles. Israel’s strategic location in the Middle East and its ongoing relationship with the United States have strengthened the significance of using Israel as an anchor in the United States’ search for countries of the Middle East to comply with specific requirements.
Israel’s Successful lobbying is necessary to achieve American policy objectives in the Middle East and to promote democracy. To assist Israel in maintaining peace along its borders and defending American interests in the Middle East, the United States has long provided it with financial support and armaments. The notion demonstrates Israel’s reliance on American military support when at war. Christian Zionists generally hold that the Bible supports Israel’s present borders. Hence any attempt to pressure the Jewish state is seen as going against God’s will. One view is that the United States is striving to carry out God’s will by aiding Israel in bringing about peace in the Middle East.
The diplomatic issues began in July 2015, when the United States signed a deal with Iran widely regarded in Israel as a mistake. Contrary to Israeli allegations, Iran would be permitted to maintain its nuclear facilities, and there would not be enough inspections to stop the country from developing nuclear weapons (Walt, 2018). Despite President Donald Trump’s abrupt withdrawal from this agreement soon after taking office, Israel revealed the existence of Iranian nuclear weapons in a historical revelation. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, recently made public documents the Mossad had obtained that demonstrated Iran had been lying about the locations of its nuclear weapons and storage facilities. Israel had anticipated that the IAEA would issue the warning, but it did not. Tensions rose due to the unsolved difficulties, and Israel decided to launch an offensive against Iran’s nuclear program rather than wait for U.N. inspectors to settle the situation.
Israel Information Technology and Cyber Capabilities
Israel is endowed with well-funded technology and innovative cyber capabilities. The implications of a proactive intelligence military have supported the notion, and the framework reveals that the country is one of the highly developed cyber defense players in the contemporary age. The country’s geographical position has allowed it to deploy enhanced intelligence coupled with offensive capabilities geared towards the need to support military operations and project powers in the region. The cyber approaches in the postulated strive for enhanced security measures have been central in reinforcing the current strategic relationships with U.S. Israel has proved to be viable in engaging with international building capabilities in the cyberspace domains. The country has adopted viable cybersecurity policy approaches with a narrowed approach to cybersecurity resilience, robustness, and capacity. The enhanced technological domains have been attained via the enhanced international and national public stakeholder participation initiatives. The prominent innovative trends reveal that Israel has a high rationale for spearheading the economy’s innovation via cyber security avenues (DellaPergola, 2017).
Bilateral Relations with the U.S. through the lens of Relevant Domains
The topic of whether or not U.S.-Israeli relations have always been thus amicable is brought up by the United States’ apparent support for Israel’s cause. Since its founding in 1948, shortly after World War II, Israel has repeatedly requested U.S. assistance to strengthen its regional security and defense capabilities. Every president of the United States since Harry Truman has shown a clear commitment to Israel’s security and close US-Israel cooperation. As seen by the public spat between Netanyahu and the Obama administration over the Iran nuclear agreement, Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the peace process, disagreements between U.S. presidents and Israel are nothing new. There are many more examples of this type of conflict between the two national leaders if we go deeper into the history of the two countries relations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed concern about Iran’s strategic dominance to influence President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw American troops from Syria. Despite this, Israel continues to advocate for more American support to enhance its regional security and defense capabilities. U.S. Congress bills frequently include clauses that would strengthen cooperation with Israel, such as the US Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 (Walt, 2018).
Multilateral Relations and Israel’s Position concerning the U.S. on International Issues through the Lens of Underlying Perceptions
Because Israel is an ally of the other countries in the region and can cooperate when necessary to fend off external and internal threats, we can understand by taking a close look at the situation that our multilateral relationships with Israel represent a new kind of realism. In order to better understand the threats in the region, the United States relies on intelligence collected by Israeli organizations. The United States military has changed compared to other regional heavyweights thanks to Israel’s technological advancements, which are frequently regarded as the greatest in the world (Zanotti, 2022). Even if the situation in the Middle East is fast deteriorating, the United States’ only ally outside of Western Europe in the region can play a constructive and significant role in preserving and bolstering Pax Americana.
U.S. Image of Israel
America and Israel have a tight bond. The American and Israeli populations highly emphasize democracy, economic development, and a dedication to maintaining international peace. America’s commitment to maintaining regional stability and defending Israel is unshakeable. The depth and tenacity of our alliance are demonstrated by our successful bilateral cooperation and commitment to Israel’s efforts to establish peaceful relations with its neighbors.
Required Efforts vis a vis Particular Target Audiences
The philosophy is based on the idea that everyone, whether they live in Israel or the U.S., has a fundamental right to flourish and prosper under representative governance. The security of Israel is essential to the American people. Despite how crucial it is to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, Iran’s actions only serve to increase the security situation in the region. The essential procedures demonstrate the need to bolster contemporary bilateral ties, and the implications of this process are connected to the several avenues that could lead to the desired outcome.
Challenges in Terms of Risk / Opportunities
The necessity for two states is intimately tied to issues like these, but dividing the land will only exacerbate local tensions. Israel’s weak diplomatic ties with the numerous Islamic states in the region are well known. Rising tensions in the region are being exacerbated by talks with Israel that take place separately from those with other nations. Due to this plan, Israel can become a target for attacks by regional militias. There is a great deal of antagonism between the United States and other Middle Eastern nations, including Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In other words, the negotiations would shift the adversarial relationship from the United States to Israel. The interests of all parties are served by maintaining positive connections between the United States and Israel. The main mentality results from the fact that both nations are committed to battling terrorism in the area (Zanotti, 2022).
Forecast Concerning the Bilateral and Multilateral Relations
Israel must update the United States about the Middle East’s terrorist and nuclear material smuggling situations. In response, the United States offers Israel financial and armed support. If this connection is strengthened, the risk of terrorism in the area and globally can be decreased. A key topic in international relations and diplomacy study is the capacity to exert influence over one’s strategic environment and outcomes. Governments use alliances as a critical weapon to strengthen their position, fend off threats, maintain peace, and constrain the actions of others. Alliances formed for attack during times of conflict, which operate “under the shadow of war,” are distinct from those formed for defense during periods of peace (Adesina, 2017). In times of war, alliances are formed to aid in the struggle against a shared foe; in times of peace, alliances are created to avert or discourage wars. Of course, alliances can strike and defend.
Additional Issues
War-torn nations surround Israel on its eastern and western borders. The possibility of a full-scale conflict, which would quickly exhaust Israel’s military and civilian resources, exists concerning the Gaza scenario. The IAEA has shown little interest in looking into Iran, even though its nuclear capabilities severely threaten Israel’s security. Israel has offered to aid in eradicating antisemitism in Europe and will open its doors to Jews in the event they are threatened there. Israel shows that it will take independent action rather than wait for outside help through a burgeoning movement. Israel is a young country with a fragile basis due to its brief history (from the mid-to-late 1900s). It is difficult to predict how current events will affect policy while the theory is still valid. Wars are starting up throughout the nation. The continuous conflict between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority and the escalating tensions with Gaza have worsened the situation. Another source of conflict in their relations with Iran is the potential for nuclear capability. The rise of antisemitism around the world presents a significant foreign policy dilemma for Israel, a country with a majority Jewish population.
Recommendations to the U.S. Regarding Israel
Israel is a significant adversary when its military prowess is considered alongside the nation’s other noteworthy accomplishments, such as agriculture. However, the issue is getting worse as the number of Palestinians in the nation approaches the number of Jews. Using this tactic, the government would be under pressure to either recognize Palestine as a sovereign state or establish a brutal occupation regime, resulting in the collapse of diplomatic relations. The absolute essential minimum of what is required of them should be reflected in their conduct. By doing this, we are expressing our support for Israel. Israel, a Western nation that emerged from an anti-colonialist movement in the Middle East, is now viewed by many former colonial countries as an unfair colonial power and the product of an international organization whose main objective is to retaliate against Israel.
Israel has historically faced mockery, if not outright scorn, for its attempts to defend what it sees as its national interests. It follows that finding a solution to the issues impacting the region requires a workable agreement on the effects of the several urgent concerns in the area. That things can be resolved amicably is becoming less and less likely. Previous attempts by some Israeli leaders to satisfy Arab desires fell short of bringing about enduring peace because they were always constrained by the need to safeguard Israeli citizens. Consequently, Israel has always been the target of hostility. Although Israel’s neighbors are hostile and determined to destroy the Jewish state, they possess a valuable resource for the world’s industrial economy (Walt, 2018). Realists who put U.S. national interests first view Israel as a burden due to the issues it has caused and the strain it has placed on relations with the nations that produce oil. By implementing strategies with a higher chance of success and forging helpful connections with a more significant potential for extending the spheres of influence associated with the proposed relationships, this idea demonstrates why the United States must work to strengthen its international relations with other countries.
References
Adesina, O. S. (2017). Foreign policy in an era of digital diplomacy. Cogent Social Sciences, 3(1), 1297175.
Baylis, J. (2020). The globalization of world politics: An introduction to international relations. Oxford university press, USA.
Walt, S. M. (2018). U.S. grand strategy after the Cold War: Can realism explain it? Should realism guide it? International Relations, 32(1), 3-22.
DellaPergola, S. (2017). The global context of migration to Israel. In Immigration to ISRAEL (pp. 51-92). Routledge.
Saban, M., Myers, V., Shachar, T., Miron, O., & Wilf-Miron, R. R. (2022). Effect of socioeconomic and ethnic characteristics on COVID-19 infection: The case of the Ultra-Orthodox and the Arab communities in Israel. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 9(2), 581–588.
Debow, M., Epstein, G., & Weiss, A. (2021). Returns to Education and Labor Market Experience in Israel. State of the nation report: Society, economy and policy.
Lerman, Z., & Parliament, C. (2021). Capital structure in agricultural cooperatives: U.S. and Israel. In Agricultural Cooperatives in Transition (pp. 227-242). Routledge.
“Israel: Country Data and Statistics.” Worlddata.info, 1 Oct. 2022, www.worlddata.info/asia/israel/index.php.
Zanotti, J. (2022, June). Israel: Background and U.S. relations. Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service.
write