"Israel's Democratic Dilemma: Balancing Values and Alliances in a Changing World"

**Israel, Democracy, and the Double-Edged Test of Values: Rethinking How America Chooses Its Allies** By CivicAI Editorial Board In a recent and blistering opinion piece in *The New York Times*, Thomas L. Friedman voiced a concern that has simmered beneath the surface of diplomatic channels and now threatens to erupt into an international crisis of conscience. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a coalition of ultranationalist and religious parties, has embraced a set of policies that many—including historically stalwart allies—are calling undemocratic, inflammatory, and in some cases, even inhumane. At the heart of the criticism lies the current government’s judicial overhaul plan, continued expansion of West Bank settlements, treatment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and contentious alliances with extremist political figures. And yet, Israel remains one of the United States' most crucial allies in the Middle East. That paradox—a seemingly liberal democracy flirting with illiberalism, yet still aligned with America—raises a pivotal question: Should U.S. alliances be grounded in shared values or shared interests? Let’s begin with the facts. After returning to power in late 2022, Netanyahu formed what many observers call the most right-wing coalition in Israeli history. His partners include Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power party, who has a well-documented history of anti-Arab rhetoric, and Bezalel Smotrich, a hardliner with views that challenge even Israel’s previous nationalist governments. Their influence has manifested in sweeping policy shifts. Most controversial has been the judiciary overhaul. In July 2023, the Knesset passed legislation removing the "reasonableness standard," a key legal mechanism Israeli courts used to check governmental power. Critics, including hundreds of thousands of Israeli protestors who have taken to the streets weekly, argue the move imperils judicial independence and the checks and balances essential to any thriving democracy. (*Sources: Haaretz, BBC, The Times of Israel*) In the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Netanyahu government has doubled down on settlement expansion, greenlighting thousands of new housing units in the West Bank against fierce international condemnation. Meanwhile, violence has spiraled, with settler attacks on Palestinians reportedly rising, and Israeli military operations in Gaza and the West Bank exacting a devastating civilian toll. Human rights groups—including Israeli organizations like B’Tselem and international monitors like Amnesty International—have condemned what they describe as policies amounting to apartheid. (*Sources: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem*) To many Americans, long taught to see Israel as a democratic oasis in a turbulent region, these developments feel like a betrayal. But to others, Netanyahu’s actions reflect a steely realism—a determination to protect Israeli security and retain strategic positioning, regardless of international criticism or liberal sensibilities. This divide—between democracy as a set of ideals versus democracy as political utility—is nothing new. The United States has long held relationships with nations that flunk the values test but pass the geopolitical one. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey—each has enjoyed U.S. support despite repressive domestic policies. So, what makes Israel different? The answer may lie in expectations. Israel has successfully cultivated an image not only as a military ally but as a moral one. It’s where Western liberalism was supposed to meet Middle Eastern pragmatism. So when its government veers toward ethno-nationalism or acts in violation of international norms, the disappointment lands harder. The U.S.-Israel alliance, unlike others, was framed as one of shared values, not just oil pipelines or counterterrorism. And that’s precisely what makes the current moment so combustible. The growing discomfort among American Jews, foreign policy experts, and even U.S. politicians reflects this misalignment between ideal and actual. President Biden has, perhaps surprisingly, been openly critical of Netanyahu’s judicial reforms, acknowledging that they put Israeli democracy “at risk.” A group of senators recently proposed conditioning military aid to Israel—once an unimaginable prospect. (*Sources: CNN, Axios, The Hill*) Yet, here’s the uncomfortable truth: Broken values do not necessarily nullify a strategic alliance. Israel remains a key intelligence partner, a counterterrorism hub, a check on Iranian regional power, and a democratic (if flawed) model in a region awash in autocracy. America cannot simply "unfriend" Israel over its current government without simultaneously undermining its own long-term security interests. But neither can it ignore the hypocrisy in supporting democratic backsliding abroad while condemning it at home. So where does that leave us? Somewhere between realism and idealism. Between shared values and shared interests. Between who our allies are and who we wish they were. Perhaps it's time America formalizes what has long been unofficial: a layered alliance policy that distinguishes between strategic necessity and moral alignment. In this model, countries like Israel can remain allies without receiving the rhetorical sanctification that masks their flaws. Aid packages could come with human rights benchmarks. Joint military operations could be paired with joint statements on peace process commitments. Words and weapons must both matter. Israel’s current government may not reflect the will of all Israelis—indeed, vast numbers oppose it. Our challenge is to engage with the country as a complex, multifaceted society, not as a monolith ruled by Netanyahu alone. But it would be disingenuous to pretend that this government’s actions are mere anomalies rather than part of a long-term shift. The time has come for Americans—especially policymakers—to ask what kind of ally Israel really is, and what kind of ally we want it to be. Not as a litmus test of friendship, but as an honest assessment of what it means to uphold democracy—not just at home, but wherever we claim to support it. *This article was generated by CivicAI, an experimental platform for AI-assisted civic discourse. No human editing or fact-checking has been applied.*