Are the neighbors impressed? | |
Q. Have the IDF’s recent military achievements, culminating in the blows inflicted on Iran, enhanced Israel’s relations with its neighbors? A. That depends which neighbors, and what the circumstances are. Certainly not the Palestinians, with whom the situation gets worse and worse. But let’s come back to that later. Instead, we can start with Israel’s veteran peace partners, Egypt and Jordan. Quite a few Israelis stranded abroad by the 12-Day War’s freezing of commercial aviation to and from Israel returned home overland without incident via Egypt and Jordan. Moreover, the Israel Air Force overflew Jordan unhindered on its way to and from Iran. And Jordan’s air defenses were activated repeatedly against Iranian UAVs headed for Israel. All this strategic interaction is not exactly new to the countries involved. But it appears to have been upgraded last month when Israel needed it. Q. The IAF also overflew Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon repeatedly, unhindered, on its way to bomb Iran. What does this tell us about Israel’s relations with these countries? A. Damascus and Beirut recently witnessed dramatic leadership changes that installed anti-Iran forces in power. Then too, neither country has an air force that might conceivably oppose IAF overflights. But this is not the case with Iraq, whose regime is Shiite-dominated and broadly pro-Iranian. That Iraqi aircraft and air defenses did not oppose the IAF speaks volumes about the Arab perception of the evolving balance of forces in the region and the need to adjust, pragmatically. | |
Yossi Alpher is an independent security analyst. He is the former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, a former senior official with the Mossad, and a former IDF intelligence officer. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent NJN's views and policy positions. | |
1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings & Briefings
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements 1. Bills & Resolutions (ENSURING UNLIMITED US WEAPONS FOR ISRAEL VIA STOCKPILE) S. 2216: Introduced 7/9/25 by Banks (R-IN) and Rosen (D-NV), “A bill to extend war reserves stockpile authority” aka the “Weapons Resupply, Stockpile, and Alliance-Israel Act.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release – Rosen, Banks Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen U.S.-Israel Military Stockpile; Jewish Insider 7/9/25: Banks, Rosen introduce bill to replenish U.S. weapons stockpile in Israel – The legislation would extend the stockpile through 2029 from its current expiration in 2027 (USING US WEAPONS SALES TO INCENTIVIZE NORMALIZATION WITH ISRAEL) HR 4335 (bill text): Introduced 7/10/25 by Lawler (R-NY) and 25 cosponsors [22 Republicans plus Moskowitz (D-FL), Davis (D-NC) and Gottheimer (D-NJ)], “To provide authority to enhance security assistance with countries that are engaged in regional security cooperation efforts in the Middle East and North Africa, and for other purposes” aka the “Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release – Messmer Supports the Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act; Jewish Insider 7/10/25: Bipartisan House bill would expedite arms sales to Abraham Accords partners [“Rep. Lawler: ‘I am committed to strengthening our relationships with regional partners and putting our ally Israel in the best position possible to do the same’”] (CENSURING REP. OGLES) H. Res. 576: Introduced 7/10/25 by Torres (D-NY) and 3 Democratic cosponsors, “Censuring Representative Andy Ogles” (for his anti-Muslim rhetoric). Referred to the House Committee on Ethics. | |
