The U.S.-Israeli relationship is straining as their policies in the Middle East diverge, but for now, relations will largely be managed through the White House. Even the likely election of a more critical Congress in this year's midterms will shape Israel's appetite for risk rather than its overall regional strategy. In the early hours of June 8, Israel carried out airstrikes against multiple targets in Iran despite intense American pressure not to respond to Iran's initial missile barrage late on June 7. It was the latest example of divergences between Israel and the United States in recent days, with U.S. President Donald Trump on June 1 reportedly telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on an assault on Beirut against Iran's proxy, Hezbollah. According to Axios, Trump said in an expletive-laced phone call that Israel's actions were destabilizing and were further isolating Israel. These and other fissures between...
