Is the U.S.-Israel Alliance Still Strategic? | The Ezra Klein Show

The other argument you'll hear is that The other argument you'll hear is that Israel's an American ally. Israel is a Israel's an American ally. Israel is a Israel's an American ally. Israel is a important strategic partner in the important strategic partner in the important strategic partner in the region and intelligence and cooperation region and intelligence and cooperation region and intelligence and cooperation and other things. And so there is an and other things. And so there is an and other things. And so there is an American strategic interest, more of a American strategic interest, more of a American strategic interest, more of a realist take than a values-based take, realist take than a values-based take, realist take than a values-based take, in maintaining a tight alliance. Do you in maintaining a tight alliance. Do you in maintaining a tight alliance. Do you buy that? buy that? buy that? >> What I mean, >> What I mean, >> What I mean, are we benefiting from our our are we benefiting from our our are we benefiting from our our relationship to the Middle East right relationship to the Middle East right relationship to the Middle East right now? What's happening? Are we benefiting now? What's happening? Are we benefiting now? What's happening? Are we benefiting from this relationship? I mean, yes, I from this relationship? I mean, yes, I from this relationship? I mean, yes, I hear this argument a lot. It's it's kind hear this argument a lot. It's it's kind hear this argument a lot. It's it's kind of almost uh it's like a holy writ in of almost uh it's like a holy writ in of almost uh it's like a holy writ in Washington. I I I do question it. Yes, Washington. I I I do question it. Yes, Washington. I I I do question it. Yes, it's good to have allies. It's good to it's good to have allies. It's good to it's good to have allies. It's good to have democratic allies. I think the have democratic allies. I think the have democratic allies. I think the United States should work with with United States should work with with United States should work with with allies to defend their legitimate allies to defend their legitimate allies to defend their legitimate security interests. I think what Israel security interests. I think what Israel security interests. I think what Israel has been doing is not remotely has been doing is not remotely has been doing is not remotely legitimate. And when I hear people bring legitimate. And when I hear people bring legitimate. And when I hear people bring up oh like do we have this cooperation up oh like do we have this cooperation up oh like do we have this cooperation on technology, on on on tech and my on technology, on on on tech and my on technology, on on on tech and my answer is well well for what? You know, answer is well well for what? You know, answer is well well for what? You know, obviously this is very very good for obviously this is very very good for obviously this is very very good for Israel. This alliance has been very very Israel. This alliance has been very very Israel. This alliance has been very very good for Israel. But when I look at the good for Israel. But when I look at the good for Israel. But when I look at the costs and benefits, both strategically, costs and benefits, both strategically, costs and benefits, both strategically, ethically, morally, politically, ethically, morally, politically, ethically, morally, politically, diplomatically to the US-Israel diplomatically to the US-Israel diplomatically to the US-Israel relationship, I don't think it works out relationship, I don't think it works out relationship, I don't think it works out in the US's favor.