Israel can learn from the Chashmonaim that it requires ongoing vigilance, preparedness to fight, and a strong belief in its cause

Photo: Flash90

IN

last week’s Rose Report, we shared a snippet of a survey showing that nearly twice as many Jewish Israelis believe the United States has more influence over Israel’s security decisions than the Israeli government.

This sentiment is understandable, given how a series of US administrations have pressured Israel to subordinate its defense and diplomatic policies to align with America’s regional interests. It’s relevant now as President Trump tries to rope Israel into his versions of peace in Gaza and Syria, and to sign a multiyear deal to sell Israeli natural gas to Egypt without addressing Egypt’s violations of the Camp David treaty.

It has also sparked widespread debate over whether Israel is a vassal state of America or genuinely independent, as Prime Minister Netanyahu claims.

Three key traits of a vassal state are dependence on a stronger power for security or legitimacy, limited sovereignty where the weaker state cannot act independently of the stronger power’s interests, and formal or de facto subordination. The clearest example of vassal states in recent history is the relationship between the former Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe during the Cold War, whose governments had to follow the Soviet line both at home and abroad, or face invasion.

According to the strict historical definition, Israel is not a vassal state. It holds free and independent elections on its own schedule, even if the US meddles to influence the results. Israel pays no taxes to the US and acts unilaterally when it perceives a tactical advantage. A classic example is Israel’s bombing of Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981. The Osirak pattern continues today, with Israel conducting targeted assassinations on foreign soil and establishing military buffer zones in Lebanon and Syria, without prior consultation.

From a realpolitik perspective, Israel can be seen as existing somewhere on the spectrum between a semi-dependent client state and a dependable strategic partner, with its survival heavily reliant on US support. The US provides Israel with $3.8 billion annually in military aid, has supplied over $21 billion in emergency military assistance in the past two years, and has collaborated with Israel on operations against Iran and Houthi proxies, even if they pulled the plug on them too soon. Additionally, US vetoes at the UN Security Council have consistently protected Israel from international sanctions.

The debate over whether the modern state of Israel is a US vassal becomes more noteworthy during Chanukah, due to the similarities between the Maccabean fight for religious freedom and their later military and diplomatic successes in reclaiming independence from the Seleucid (Syrian-Greek) Empire.

Under Antiochus, Judea was in a worse condition than a vassal state. The Seleucids acted as an occupying force that used coercion to Hellenize the Jews and prohibit Torah observance. While ancient Judea suffered religious persecution, modern-day Israel stands as a shining example of religious freedom. Every Jew, Muslim, and Christian can worship and practice their faiths freely, so today’s Israelis enjoy complete spiritual liberty.

Nevertheless, the military and diplomatic situations are similar, because both the Maccabean Wars and Israel’s recent conflicts posed existential threats. Over the past two years, Israel has worked tirelessly around the clock to restore border security, rebuild deterrence, and maintain its diplomatic independence.

The Chanukah miracle marked a turning point: The Jews purified the Beis Hamikdash and relit the Menorah, bringing spiritual light to the world. However, it took more than 20 years of sporadic warfare and diplomacy to regain political autonomy, and nearly another decade to achieve full independence.

Israel can learn from the Chashmonaim that it requires ongoing vigilance, preparedness to fight, and a strong belief in its cause, and that the fight doesn’t end on your schedule.

GOP Anti-Israel Sentiment Growing

Can Israel still rely on Republican support? Historically, Israel depended heavily on evangelical backing, but Americans are becoming less religious.

A mid-November Gallup Poll shows that only 49% of American adults believe religion is important in their daily lives, a 17% decrease since 2015. That dovetails with a March 2025 Pew Research survey indicating that 53% of US adults hold negative views of Israel. Republicans aged 18 to 49 who now hold unfavorable opinions of Israel jumped from 35% to 50% since 2023.

Some pundits argue that declining support for Israel is a fringe phenomenon, but Gallup and Pew data show the trend is widespread and concerning. Politico magazine published two detailed articles last week about the debate within Republican circles regarding whether the party should end its longstanding alliance with Israel. Although Politico leans left, the articles include solid, factual information from beat reporters covering conservative and far-right politics. They should serve as a wake-up call for Jews who believe the GOP remains a safe political refuge.

Republicans running in the 2026 midterms and considering a 2028 White House bid are aware of these polls and shifting sentiments. They can campaign knowing that support for Israel is no longer crucial for victory, while opposition to Israel is more acceptable than ever, and perhaps a winning formula.

Word of the Week: Affordability

WISE, the international money transfer company, states that Switzerland has the world’s highest cost of living. The US ranks ninth, Australia tenth, Canada 12th, Israel 19th, and the UK 22nd. WISE considers the costs of housing, utilities, food, transportation, health care, taxes, education, childcare, personal care, and entertainment. If you’re looking for affordability, try the Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean east of Africa, which ranked 100 out of 100 countries surveyed. Oh, and Qatar finished 36th.

Miami Turns Blue — Trump Sees Red

Eileen Higgins is poised to become Miami’s first female mayor and the first Democrat to hold the position in nearly thirty years. She defeated the Trump-backed Republican, Emilio Gonzalez, by nearly 20% in a city where Trump finished even with Kamala Harris in 2024. It’s another sign of trouble for Republicans 11 months before the 2026 midterms.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1091)