The Sovereignty of Survival: Why "Israel First" is the Only Path Forward

By Avi Drori, Senior Contributor

March 27, 2026

​History is a relentless teacher, and for Israel, the lesson has always been clear: survival cannot be outsourced. As we navigate the current existential campaign, it is vital to remember that the "Israel First" policy is not a modern provocation, but a historical necessity. From the very dawn of its independence, Israel has flourished only when it prioritized its own security over the fickle winds of international diplomacy.

​A Legacy of Defiance

​The foundations of the Jewish state were laid not with global support, but in spite of its absence. In 1948, as a small nation became a sanctuary for Holocaust survivors and those fleeing ethnic cleansing across North Africa and the Middle East, the United States opposed military aid. Yet, against all odds, Israel gained its independence.

​This pattern of self-reliance defined the 20th century:

• ​1956: Israel defeated the Egyptian army despite U.S. opposition to the Sinai campaign.

• ​1967: Facing a mobilized Egypt and Syria and a Red Sea blockade, Israel launched a preemptive strike that broke the coalition of Arab nations.

• ​1981: To the dismay of NATO allies, Israel destroyed Iraq’s Osirak nuclear plant—a move for which the world only offered thanks years later after the First Gulf War.

​It was only after Israel proved itself "strong" and sustainable through these independent victories that the U.S. shifted its policy to view the nation as a true ally.

​The Friction of Alliance

​While the U.S.-Israel relationship is often touted as unbreakable, history reveals a more complex reality of "arm-twisting" and strategic divergence. During the 1973 war, Washington hesitated on munitions shipments, using them as leverage for future concessions. Later, the White House objected to essential campaigns against threats in Lebanon and Syria, even as Israel faced repeated attacks and the "act of war" posed by Syrian missile advancements.

​Even in the 21st century, Israel has had to act alone to ensure its future. In 2006, the destruction of Syria’s clandestine North Korean nuclear plant at Dir a-Zor was executed without U.S. coordination to ensure operational security. Since 2009, Prime Minister Netanyahu has maintained this policy of ambiguity, prioritizing survival over the approval of whoever occupies the White House.

​The High Cost of Hesitation

​The current crisis is the direct result of years of international tolerance. The policies of the Obama and Biden administrations allowed Iran to reach the brink of nuclear power, amassing over 1,000 pounds of weapons-grade uranium. The "awakening" of October 7th finally shifted Israel's stance from tolerance to a direct confrontation with its enemies' genocidal rhetoric and actions.

​We have seen the limits of conventional intervention. The independent campaign against Iran in the summer of 2025 failed, as did subsequent U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. Neither effort successfully stripped Iran of its weapons-grade material.

​The Only Way Forward

​Israel now finds itself in a campaign that is, by every definition, existential. The White House may offer advice or voice objections, but Israel has learned that its survival is a mandate from a higher power, not a diplomatic negotiation. Whether the world stands with us or against us, the "Israel First" policy remains the only guarantee that there will be an Israel tomorrow.