ABSTRACT
Israeli security is currently based on four pillars: conventional deterrence; strategic depth; strategic deterrence; and above all a US–Israeli strategic partnership, complemented by an Israeli inclination toward self-reliance. Despite pressures for dilution of one or more of the pillars, or even a trade-off between two or more elements, this network has been sustained successfully for over four decades. The US role is essential for the other three elements, and a change in the role of the United States in the Middle East would have severe implications for the other pillars of Israeli security. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the implications of a reduction in the United States’ role at the global level, and in the Middle East in particular, on Israel’s national security doctrine and strategy. Attention is given to the impact on each element of the national security strategy of the Jewish state.
