Photograph by Nathaniel St. Clair

On the evening of June 21st in Washington, the morning of June 22nd here in Jerusalem, the United States attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, joining Israel’s more widespread assault intended to eliminate a rival for regional hegemony, one that targeted not only Iran’s nuclear facilities and ballistic missile system but civilian infrastructure as well, in the hope of inducing regime change. The meta-aims of the attack were three-fold.

First, the Trump Administration reasserted the claim to American-led global hegemony, a prerequisite upon which an isolationist America First depends. Even if the bombings were a hollow act, amounting to little more than a safe, opportunistic attack against a greatly weakened foe, they evidence the continuing primacy of force in enforcing US/NATO ascendency, a relation to “the rest” predating by far Trump’s presidency.

Second, it reaffirmed Israel’s position as a regional hegemon representing, advancing and protecting American interests – a “message” vital for an Israel that finds itself increasingly isolated in the international community and whose utility to the Americans has come into question since October 7th – but no less important, it signaled that Israel itself had a latitude of independent action, that........

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