Arms and influence: the American‒Israeli relationship and the 1969‒1970 War of Attrition

ABSTRACT The dominant view of the American‒Israeli relationship holds that it has been driven primarily by shared interests and values; however, since the 1960s, the relationship has been governed first and foremost by a ‘security-for-autonomy’ bargain. Under the terms of this bargain, Washington has obtained a significant amount of influence over Israeli foreign policy in exchange for American arms transfers to Israel. The 1969‒1970 War of Attrition clearly illustrates how this bargain has operated in practice. The United States manipulated Israeli military conduct in a manner that accommodated American national interests by withholding or supplying arms at key junctures of the war.