As criticism of US military support for Israel reaches unprecedented levels, leaders on the Israeli and US right are proposing a transformation of the “special relationship.” Rather than relying on traditional military aid, they envision integrating Israel more deeply into the US military-industrial complex and turning Israel into a “Super Sparta.” The aim is to insulate the Israeli regime from international pressure to end its ongoing genocide and occupation. In doing so, Israel’s relationship with the US would shift from dependence to deeper symbiosis.
What would this integration actually look like? Can Israel produce enough of its own weapons, technology, and military infrastructure to sustain its occupation and wars while insulating itself from growing international pressure? Or do its military industries remain fundamentally dependent on foreign financing, procurement, and political support? Most importantly, how would these strategic shifts impact the pro-Palestine movement?
To explore these questions and more, we are joined by policy expert Lara Friedman and investigative journalist and writer Antony Loewenstein in this policy lab.
Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network is an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit organization whose mission is to convene a multidisciplinary, global network of Palestinian analysts to produce critical policy analysis and collectively imagine a new policymaking paradigm for Palestine and Palestinians worldwide.
