Israel needs new friends

Improving Israel’s ties with emerging powers, such as India, is key to advancing such a cause. Cooperation between the two countries on defense and other matters is getting closer, and there are other states in Asia with which Israel can cautiously find common cause. China is an obvious choice, provided that relations with it are managed in a way that would not be detrimental to Israel’s ties with America.

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Strengthening regional cooperation with countries like Saudi Arabia, which also opposed the Iran deal, is another way forward. The agreement with Iran endangers Israel but also presents an opportunity: Many countries in the Middle East also see Iran as a threat. They might finally decide that the time has come for them to cooperate with Israel. (Relations between Israel and Egypt are already improving because of mutual threats from Islamist groups.)

Nor can Israel dismiss its relations with Europe. Many European powers are highly critical of certain Israeli policies — especially toward the Palestinians. But Europe is nearby and an important commercial partner. Israel should creatively develop possible alliances with like-minded European countries, especially in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region. And it should strive to independently improve its relations with Western European states, rather then relying on Washing-ton to counterbalance their biases whenever there is trouble.

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