As part of my summer internship here at Vandenberg, I researched the false narratives about Israel being pushed by various isolationist podcasters. Israel not only faces an existential kinetic threat from Iran and Iran’s proxies, it also is seeing efforts by these digital influencers to erode American support for Israel. These malign narratives question the strategic value of the U.S.-Israel alliance and push outright conspiracy theories. But a fair look at this longstanding alliance clearly shows that a strong partnership with Israel is good for American interests and aligned with American principles.

A common accusation from online influencers is that aid to Israel does not benefit American citizens or advance American interests. The reality is that Israel is a force multiplier for the United States abroad, particularly in intelligence operations. Israel possesses formidable intelligence capabilities through that have been leveraged many times to assist the United States in achieving regional operations, including the American military’s successful strike taking out IRGC terrorist Qassem Solemani and the successful early phase of Operation Epic Fury.

Another common narrative emanating from online suggests that President Trump and the United States were forced or tricked into beginning Operation Epic Fury against the Islamic Republic of Iran on “behalf” of Israel. Any examination of President Trump’s record shows that this simply is not grounded in reality. Whether it is his withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the strike against Soleimani, or Operation Midnight Hammer’s strikes aginst Iranian nuclear facilities, President Trump has a consistent record about opposing Iranian advancement toward a nuclear weapon. These actions are parts of a long-term effort of the Trump administration to address the Iranian nuclear threat through kinetic force and to say that President Trump only recently made the decision to attack Iran in Operation Epic Fury because of Israeli pressure or coercion, disregards his foreign policy record entirely.  

These narratives emanating from online influencers must be addressed by American leadership to combat the tides of anti-Israel sentiment and isolationism within the electorate. It is prudent and absolutely necessary for elected officials take the initative themselves and push back against these prominent online figures, rather than waiting for pro-Israel or ideologically aligned online figures to do the work for them. Leadership from above, with factually grounded arguments that highlight the countless benefits a strong U.S.-Israel alliance creates, can be a bulwark against growing aversion toward continuing this historic partnership.