Israel's successful attack on Iran is proof American support is worth the money | Opinion
Members of both American political parties have questioned our financial support of Israel. The strike on Iran shows the value of that support.
Late on June 12, Israel began strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. They killed the commander in chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, killed multiple top nuclear scientists and other military leaders, and struck several key sites related to Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
The attack was in response to growing fears that Iran was aggressively pursuing a nuclear weapon, something that both the United States and Israel have made clear is unacceptable.
Israel has every right to defend itself, and its goals in the Middle East are aligned with ours. The United States, Israel and the entire world are safer if Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. Israel’s actions can help prevent that.
This is why we fund Israel. Isolationists in both political parties like to pretend as if the American and Israeli friendship is a one-way street, through which Washington sends billions of dollars and receives nothing in return.
Israel Striking Iran is good for America
Iran is the worst state sponsor of terror in the world. It poses a direct threat to Israel, but also to America and the rest of the West.
In recent weeks, Iranian leaders have become increasingly aggressive in both their rhetoric and their actions, failing to comply with their nuclear nonproliferation obligations.
President Donald Trump had attempted to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran, seeking an agreement with Tehran that prevented enriching any Uranium, which Ayatollah Ali Khamenei deemed unacceptable.
In recent days, Iran vowed to “accelerate its production of near-weapons-grade uranium,” according to The Wall Street Journal, with plans to open a new secret enrichment facility.
After holding Israel back from striking Iran for weeks, Trump seems to have realized that a diplomatic solution could not be reached, and Israel has proceeded with their strikes. The United States has claimed not to be involved in the strikes on Iran.
"Iran must make a deal before there is nothing left," Trump said in response to the attacks.
A sixth round of negotiations between Iran and America was scheduled for June 15, but Israel's military operations naturally complicate things.
The strikes are expected to go on for several days, but if they are successful, Israel will have done an incredible service to America. An Iranian regime with nuclear weapons would be a stronger enemy. Iran is the largest state sponsor of terror in the world, and nuclear weapons would strengthen its position in both armed conflicts and negotiations.
Iran has already responded, launching a missile barrage against Tel Aviv. Iran has not yet taken any action against American forces in the region.
American isolationists are mistaken about Israel
Anti-Israel sentiments have risen in both political parties in recent years. The progressive left and isolationist right both are very anti-Israel, and are both mistaken about, at the very least, our return on investment from supporting Israel.
We see this in Congress, when 37 House Democrats and 21 House Republicans voted against an Israel funding package in 2024. These figures are a result of both a rise in opposition to foreign aid and opposition to the actions of Israel explicitly.
These isolationists have been influential, too, pushing Israel's favorability among Americans underwater.
The benefit that America derives is in instances like these, in which we get to decapitate Iran’s nuclear program without having to attack the nation ourselves directly. This is a worthwhile investment that makes the United States better.
Both those on the left and right who want to see America’s relationship with Israel torn down are sorely mistaken.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, when Iranian-supported terror group Hamas slaughtered about 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages into the Gaza Strip, the United States has given Israel at least $17.9 billion.
This relatively insignificant amount pales in comparison with the massive spending deficit that congressional Republicans are on track to create in the latest budget. It is a small price to pay to keep Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
This idea obviously rests on Iran not retaliating against our military assets, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sternly warned against. Iran would be foolish to draw the United States into this conflict unnecessarily.
America’s partnership with Israel is not a charity case; it is an investment in a partnership that is paying dividends for our national security interests. Isolationists and the Americans they have led astray should take these strikes against Iran as an opportunity to reflect on that.
Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for Paste BN and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.