U.S. Defense Policy toward Israel

This book examinesU.S. defense policy toward Israel during the Cold War, emphasizing arms sales, intelligence sharing, and other security cooperation. It argues that strategic interests drove American policy with other considerations, such as domestic politics and shared liberal values, mattering far less. It begins with thepresidency of John F. Kennedyand ends with the presidency of George H. W. Bushwith a particular focus on government officials: presidents, secretaries of state, secretaries of defense, national security advisors, other administration officials, and senators andCongressmen. Thebook explores the primacy of security as American officials feared nuclear proliferation, regionalwar, and a cut-off of oil supplies.All the while,tensions and often bitter disagreements in the U.S.-Israel relationshipaboundedover what to do about threats in the Middle East. This volume will be of interest to those studying American relations with the rest of the Middle East and U.S. security partnerships around the world.