Why in News: Israel’s recent military successes against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s nuclear infrastructure have projected it as the dominant power in West Asia. However, beneath this image of strength lie structural weaknesses that make such hegemony unsustainable.
Introduction
- Israel’s military strength and U.S. backing have long defined the balance of power in West Asia.
- Yet, enduring control through force is proving untenable as internal contradictions and external disillusionment mount.
- The notion of Israeli hegemony rests on shifting sands rather than enduring legitimacy.
Structural and Political Constraints
- Israel’s small demographic base of around 9 million includes 20% Palestinians; annexation of the West Bank and Gaza would create an almost equal Jewish–Palestinian population.
- This produces a democratic dilemma—granting equal rights ends its Jewish identity, while denying them institutionalises apartheid-like rule.
- Either path leads to internal instability or global ostracism, undermining the Zionist vision.
- The contradiction between democratic values and ethnic exclusivity erodes Israel’s moral legitimacy and long-term political cohesion.
Regional and Strategic Vulnerabilities
- The Gaza devastation (≈67,000 deaths) has alienated Arab regimes once aligned through the Abraham Accords.
- The Doha bombing (2025) broke trust with Qatar and stalled normalisation with Saudi Arabia, reviving anti-Israel sentiment in Arab societies.
- Growing anti-Israel public opinion in the U.S.—even among American Jews—weakens the core of Israeli power: unquestioned U.S. support.
- Trump’s ceasefire imposition and Israel’s compelled apology to Qatar show Tel Aviv’s dependence on Washington’s directives.
- With Iran’s threat reduced, Israel’s strategic utility to the U.S. has waned, making it appear more as a liability than an asset in America’s West Asia strategy.
Conclusion
Israel’s present dominance rests on military might without sustainable legitimacy. Demographic imbalance, diplomatic isolation, and dependence on U.S. support make its hegemony fragile. A stable West Asia demands that Israel reconcile with Palestinians and rebuild regional trust through inclusivity rather than coercion.
UPSC Relevance:
GS Paper 2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests and international relations.
GS Paper 3: Security and strategic environment; regional geopolitics in West Asia.
Mains Practice Question:
Q. Israel’s recent military dominance in West Asia conceals deeper structural fragilities. Critically analyse the factors that make its regional hegemony unsustainable. (250 words)