How Begin Built Israel’s Most Crucial US Alliance

Former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin orchestrated what would become the most strategically significant political alliance between Israel and the United States, fundamentally reshaping Middle Eastern geopolitics for decades to come. Begin’s approach to US relations differed markedly from his predecessors, establishing a framework that would endure long after his tenure ended. The alliance he forged created unprecedented levels of military and economic cooperation between the two nations, setting a template that successive Israeli governments would build upon. Begin recognised early that cementing ties with Washington was essential not merely for security concerns, but for Israel’s long-term viability as a state. His diplomatic acumen and political vision transformed what had previously been a transactional relationship into something far more comprehensive and institutionalised. The foundations Begin laid during his premiership (1977-1983) proved so robust that they continue to define Israeli-American relations today, making his tenure a watershed moment in the country’s modern history.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.