A rather oddly choreographed game of “carrot and stick” is currently being played out in what, for weeks, has been an increasingly frosty relationship between the US government and Israel
The rapid deployment of the American THAAD high-altitude anti-missile defence system to Israel complete with around 100 US personnel to operate it demonstrates Washington’s continued military commitment to Israel
The system would form part of Israel’s defensive shield, should the conflict with Iran escalate into something much bigger but it is also a reminder of how reliant Israel is on US military support even though Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly says,
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Israel will make its own military decisions how and when it sees appropriate
But it also highlights some of the policy contortions carried out by Washington: first trying to pressure Israel and its adversaries not to escalate the war, instead urging diplomacy
When that has failed the White House has then firmly backed its Israeli ally’s decisions while moving to shield it diplomatically and militarily
