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James Ogunleye

When True Allies Rise: Israel Isn’t Alone Anymore

Defenders of Destiny: President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu Stand United Against the Rising Shadow of Nuclear Terror. (Photo credit: Times of Israel/Avi Ohayon/GPO)

When David Ben-Gurion stood before the world on May 14, 1948, and declared the independence of the State of Israel, he did so with clarity: this new state would have to fight for its existence. Just two weeks later, the Israel Defense Forces were formed to counter a five-pronged invasion from neighboring Arab states. It was the first war for Israel’s survival. It would not be the last.

Seventy-seven years on, Israel is still defending that right to exist. The battlefields have changed, but the threats remain – missiles instead of tanks, ideological proxies instead of uniformed armies. Yet one constant has been the vital alliance with the United States. Or so we thought.

In recent years, especially under the Biden-Harris administration, that alliance has felt uncertain. From re-engaging with the flawed 2015 Iran nuclear deal to failing to enforce sanctions and withholding critical military aid, United States support became more rhetorical than real. The horrifying October 7 Hamas attack, in which over 1,200 Israelis were massacred and more than 250 kidnapped, should have been a turning point. Instead, Israel was met with lectures, conditionality, and diplomatic pressure to show restraint in the face of unspeakable evil.

But last week, something changed.

The United States launched a precision military operation – Operation Midnight Hammer – targeting Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. The strikes were surgical, overwhelming, and effective. They crippled Iran’s nuclear capabilities and sent a clear message: the US-Israel alliance may have been strained in recent years, but it is far from broken.

This was not merely an act of military might. It was a reaffirmation of values. It signaled to Israel, and the world, that the United States is once again prepared to back its democratic allies in the face of existential threats. It was a moment of resilience and renewal.

Iran’s aggression has not been theoretical. For years, it has armed and funded Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other destabilizing forces across the region. Under the Trump administration, Iran was financially strangled and geopolitically isolated. The Abraham Accords opened a pathway to peace, and Israel flourished – economically, technologically, diplomatically. But with the lifting of sanctions and strategic ambiguity from the Biden team, Iran regained financial strength and regional influence.

The result was a Middle East on fire – Israeli cities under rocket barrage, northern towns evacuated due to Hezbollah shelling, and civilians sleeping in bomb shelters as Iranian drones loomed overhead.

This is not hypothetical. It is happening. And Israel, though resilient, cannot face it alone. That’s why the recent American strikes were so consequential. Not because they were militarily necessary – Israel has shown again and again its capability – but because they were morally necessary.

They proved that partnership is not just about policy – it’s about principle.

Still, hard lessons remain. Israel must re-evaluate the terms of its relationship with Washington. It must assert its sovereignty without apology and insist that support not be conditional on political convenience. It must remember that resilience is not only built on alliances but on self-reliance, innovation, and moral clarity.

Israel is not defined by conflict. It is defined by how it rises after it. That’s where renewal begins – not in vengeance, but in vision. In innovating the future of Israel – not just with Iron Domes and surgical airstrikes, but with new ideas, new partnerships, and a fierce commitment to life.

To President Trump and the defense leaders who orchestrated the recent strikes: thank you. To Prime Minister Netanyahu and the people of Israel: stay the course. And to the American public: remember who your allies are.

About the Author
James Ogunleye, PhD, is the Convener of the upcoming 'Resilience & Renewal: Innovating the Future of Israel' Project.
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