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A New Regional Role for Israel, as Washington Steps Back
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) David Makovsky - In another step in Israel's integration in the region, four Arab foreign ministers are convening with their Israeli counterpart in the Negev. Arabs notice that it is Israel that is willing to be kinetic against Iran, whether it is pushing back against Iran and proxies in Syria, in Iraq, and even inside Iran itself. In contrast, the U.S. does not retaliate against Iranian strikes at the U.S. It is hard to escape the view that, unless U.S. lives are lost, the U.S. does not want any retaliation. During a recent visit to Israel, I heard several Israeli military officials say that Iran seems more fearful of Israel than it is of the U.S. Arab states have noticed this. Israel does not have the same relationship with Saudi Arabia that the U.S. does, yet it does have significant contacts, and one must imagine that Israel is sharing intelligence with the kingdom against the Houthis. The writer is director of the Project on Arab-Israel Relations at the Washington Institute.