Israel is deeply grateful for American support. But support does not erase history, sovereignty, or Israel’s right to speak for itself.

As an American Jew who has spent a lifetime teaching about responsibility and resilience, I listened carefully when Vice President JD Vance warned Israeli ministers not to “attack the only powerful ally they have anywhere left in the entire world” and reminded them that much of Israel’s military capability is supplied by the United States.

His remarks touched a nerve because they reflected a misunderstanding that appears periodically in American discussions about Israel: the idea that dependence on American support somehow reduces Israel’s right to speak for itself. The problem is not criticism. Allies criticize one another all the time. The problem is the implication that military assistance creates a diminished right to disagree.

Gratitude Is Not Deference

Israel is deeply grateful for American support. It should be.

But gratitude is not the same thing as deference.

And support is not ownership.

Disagreement is Not Disloyalty

A mature alliance must leave room for disagreement. Americans regularly........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)