Israel, the United States, and the War Against Hamas, July–August 2014 The “Special Relationship” under Scrutiny

Launched in 2014, “Operation Protective Edge” saw heavy fighting between the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas in Gaza. The US government media spokespersons confirmed Israel’s right to self-defense and condemned Hamas for initiating the conflict and its use of human shields. However, US government public criticisms relating to Gazan civilian loss of life damaged Israel on the international stage. Political and military policies have to be directed to prevent a rift, but the “Protective Edge” experience brought to the fore that in times of crisis Israel cannot rely on a “special relationship” to secure its safety. It must possess the political will and military ability to take actions that may result in a strained relationship.

Zaki Shalom is a member of the research staff at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies and at Ashkelon Academic College. He is the author of Israel’s Nuclear Option: Behind the Scenes Diplomacy between Dimona and Washington (Sussex Academic Press and Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, 2005), and Ben-Gurion’s Political Struggles, 1963–1967: A Lion in Winter (Routledge, 2006). In 2007 he was awarded the Prime Minister’s prestigious David Ben-Gurion Memorial Prize for his book Fire in His Bones, which relates Ben-Gurion’s activities following his resignation as prime minister and until his death.