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Arguments Surrounding US Foreign Policy In Arab-Israel Conflict

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There are many arguments surrounding US foreign policy in Middle East. Many scholars argue that US foreign policy in Arab-Israel conflict is manly driven by political and economic interests. John H. McFadden points out that Middle East is one of the most strategically important region in the world since World War II. Before the collapse of Soviet Union, the world was going through a bipolar international power structure where the Soviet Union and United States fought each other. The competition between the US and Soviet Union eventually turned into a competition between two extreme ideologies which gave birth to the Cold War. During the Cold War, the Middle East was considered as an important region to protect and influence by both the United …show more content…

Even though the US didn’t directly fight by the side of Israel against Arab nations, it directed its Sixth fleet to strategic position to counter potential Soviet help. US-Israel relationship flourished during Regan administration when the Middle East was going through political turmoil. The Shah Regime was overthrown and Islamic Republic of Iran was established and most importantly Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. In the midst of this political turmoil in Middle East, Regan realized the importance to make the relationship with Israel stronger due to its strategic importance. He said “American policy makers downgrade Israel’s geopolitical importance as a stabilizing force, as a deterrent to radical hegemony and a military offset to the Soviet Union. The fall of Iran has increased Israel’s value as perhaps the only remaining strategic assets in the region on which the United States can truly rely: other pro-western states in the region, especially Saudi Arabia and the smaller Gulf Kingdoms, are weak and vulnerable”. In 1981, United States signed Memorandum of Understanding with Israel for cooperation on various fields. In 1985, Israel joined United States Strategic Defense Initiative program which was designed to develop defense technology to protect the US homeland from Soviet

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