Don’t fix what isn’t broken.
By Hezy Laing
Recent news reports suggest the U.S. is planning to build a large military base near Gaza for international forces helping to maintain the ceasefire.
These plans reportedly call to construct a huge $500 million U.S. military base near Gaza to house thousands of foreign troops.
This proposal may appear strategic, but it carries serious consequences for both countries.
For the United States, the move adds another layer to an already overstretched global military presence.
With soaring national debt and mounting commitments from Europe to the Pacific, stationing troops in Israel risks entangling America in yet another volatile front.
For Israel, it undermines the very foundation of its hard-won independence.
After 2,000 years of exile and struggle, relying on foreign troops to secure its borders sends a message of dependency and erodes national resolve.
The IDF was built to defend Israel alone—not to coordinate with foreign battalions under diplomatic constraints.
Including a U.S. military base inside Israel would reinforce the damaging narrative that Israel is merely a proxy of American power, rather than an independent, sovereign nation.
This perception undermines Israel’s legitimacy on the world stage and fuels hostile propaganda across the UN, Arab media, and anti-Israel movements in the West.
It would allow adversaries to claim that Israel cannot act without American permission, and that its military victories are not its own.
In a region where perception shapes diplomacy and deterrence, this image of dependency could be strategically disastrous.
Worse, future U.S. administrations may not be as friendly.
A base on Israeli soil could become a tool of leverage—used to pressure Israel politically or militarily, especially if leadership in Washington turns hostile.
Even now, the U.S. is urging Israel to show restraint against Hamas.
Imagine how much stronger that pressure becomes when American soldiers are stationed near the conflict zone.
Every military decision could be second-guessed, delayed, or vetoed to protect foreign personnel.
Sovereignty would be compromised not by force, but by consent.
And then there’s the perception problem.
Critics already accuse Israel of taking American aid without bearing its own burden.
A permanent U.S. base would fuel antisemitic narratives that Israel manipulates foreign powers to fight its wars.
That’s not just offensive—it’s dangerous.
Israel doesn’t need peacekeepers.
It needs partners who respect its autonomy and support its right to self-defense.
The U.S. and Israel have long worked together successfully by avoiding the mistake of entangled forces.
Now is not the time to change course.
Don’t fix what isn’t broken.
