CliffNotes

Israel says it will defend itself alone after US-Houthi strike deal
It is another instance of Israel being sidelined by the US government
Surprisingly there has been no backlash from Netanyahu to Trump over the move

Israel says it will defend itself alone after US surprise deal with Houthis

What Happened

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will “defend ourselves alone” against the Houthis after Donald Trump struck a surprise deal with the Iran-backed group. The ceasefire came after the Houthis launched a missile attack on Israel’s main airport, prompting Israeli airstrikes on targets in Yemen.

The deal sees the US halting its military campaign against the Houthis in return for an end to attacks on American interests. However, the Houthis have made it clear they will continue targeting Israel. Netanyahu responded by stating that Israel would continue to defend itself alone if necessary, saying cooperation with allies is welcome but not essential.

Perspective

The agreement is said to have caught the Israelis off guard – and that’s hardly surprising. The Trump administration has been thick as thieves with Netanyahu and his government but there have been signs in recent months that Israel is no longer a top priority for Washington. At the end of the day, US policy has always been guided by its own interests.

The move is yet another instance of the US sidelining the Israeli government, but what may come as a surprise is the lack of backlash from Israel. When Joe Biden was in government, Benjamin Netanyahu did not hold back in criticising the then-US president, but Netanyahu has an unwavering loyalty to Trump. Instead of criticising the deal, Israel has focused on pushing the narrative of “self-reliance” and telling the public the country must be capable of defending itself independently.