New Books in Middle Eastern Studies

David Tal, "The Making of an Alliance: The Origins and Development of the US-Israel Relationship" (Cambridge UP, 2022)

May 8, 2024

David Tal, author of 'The Making of an Alliance: The Origins and Development of the US-Israel Relationship', challenges the realist approach to US-Israeli relations, emphasizing idealism and strategic ties. The podcast explores the historical and ideological roots of the relationship, the impact of 9/11, Israel's image in international perception, and recent events affecting US support for Israel.

36:16

Episode guests

David Tal

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Quick takeaways

The US-Israel relationship was built on idealism, political culture, and strategic ties rather than a neo-realist approach.

Shared religious foundations and values formed the core of the special relationship between America and Israel, impacting politics and diplomacy.

Deep dives

Origins of the Special Relationship: Religious Foundations

The special relationship between America and Israel stems from the religious foundations of the American society, rooted in strong beliefs in the Bible and Scriptures. Early American settlers saw their journey to America as akin to the Jewish exodus from Egypt, forming the basis of their identity. American national identity is grounded in ideas drawn from the Scriptures, shaping their political system and democracy. This religious bond and shared values formed the core of the special relationship, with Americans viewing Israel as part of their own identity.

Introduction

3min

The Historical and Ideological Roots of the US-Israel Relationship

21min

Evolution of US-Israel Relationship Post-9/11

2min

Evolution of Israel's Image in International Perception

4min

The Impact of Recent Events on US-Israel Relationship and American Support for Israel

3min

Laying the foundation for an understanding of US-Israeli relations, this lively and accessible book provides critical background on the origins and development of the 'special' relations between Israel and the United States.

Questioning the usual neo-realist approach to understanding this relationship, David Tal instead suggests that the relations between the two nations were constructed on idealism, political culture, and strategic ties.

Based on a diverse range of primary sources collected in archives in both Israel and the United States, The Making of an Alliance: The Origins and Development of the US-Israel Relationship (Cambridge UP, 2022) discusses the development of relations built through constant contact between people and ideas, showing how presidents and Prime Ministers, state officials, and ordinary people from both countries, impacted one another. It was this constancy of religion, values, and history, serving the bedrock of the relations between the two countries and peoples, over which the ephemeral was negotiated.

The author, David Tal, is Professor and Yossi Harel Chair in Modern Israel Studies in the Department of History at the University of Sussex. A historian of diplomatic and military history, he has published extensively on Israeli diplomatic and military history, and U.S. diplomatic history and disarmament policies.

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New Books in Middle Eastern Studies

David Tal, "The Making of an Alliance: The Origins and Development of the US-Israel Relationship" (Cambridge UP, 2022)

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Origins of the Special Relationship: Religious Foundations

Shared Interests and Strategic Cooperation

The Role of the State Department and Public Perception

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts