Key facts
- Pro-Israel think tank FDD has urged Israel to deepen its integration with the US.
- The proposal aims to make financial targeting of Israel costly for Washington.
- FDD chief executive Mark Dubowitz warned that the US financial warfare machine is being assembled against Israel.
- A Pew Research Center survey shows six in 10 Americans now view Israel unfavorably.
- Dubowitz stated that US politicians feel freer to take tougher stances on Israel.
- More Americans now sympathize with Palestinians than Israelis, according to Dubowitz.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a pro-Israel think tank, has advised Israel to strengthen its military, technological, intelligence, and economic ties with the United States. This strategy, outlined by FDD chief executive Mark Dubowitz, aims to create a situation where imposing sanctions on Israel would also incur costs for Washington, thereby acting as a deterrent.
Dubowitz drew a parallel to the financial warfare machine the US developed to pressure Iran, warning that similar mechanisms are now being assembled against Israel. He described the model used against Iran as a "steadily tightening noose," where banks and investors, fearing US repercussions, often went beyond legal requirements.
The FDD's proposal comes as public opinion in the US, and globally, has shifted against Israel. A Pew Research Center survey indicated that six in 10 Americans now hold an unfavorable view of Israel, a significant increase from previous years. This erosion of public support is also reflected in political sentiment, with Dubowitz noting that US politicians feel increasingly empowered to adopt tougher stances on Israel. He added that polls now show more Americans sympathizing with Palestinians than Israelis, a trend that he believes should concern Israel and its allies as public opinion ultimately shapes policy.