The American–Israeli alliance was neither inevitable nor automatic. It was built over time on a deeply rooted conviction among a majority of the American public that Israel and the United States shared fundamental values: democracy, pluralism, and a belief in individual freedom. But it was not values alone. The alliance also rested on shared strategic interests, particularly in the context of the Cold War, when Israel was increasingly seen in Washington as a counterweight to Soviet-backed forces in the Middle East. Strategic interests and the American perception of cultural affinity reinforced one another, giving the relationship unusual durability. Suspicion, Integration, and Postwar Transformation The history of Jews in the United States stretches back to the seventeenth century. Yet for much of that history, Jews were viewed with suspicion and faced various forms of discrimination. Antisemitic organizations operated openly, and social exclusion remained common well into the twentieth century. The turning point came after World War II, which ended in 1945. Antisemitism became discredited by its association with the Nazi enemy. At the same time, Jewish participation in the U.S. armed forces brought millions of American soldiers into direct contact with…
