Let Israel fight ISIS

Israel’s habitual exclusion is ostensibly based on sound logic. It is meant to deny Arab countries an excuse not to join in the fight and deny the target, whether it’s Mr. Hussein or the Islamic State, a propaganda card that it would surely use if the coalition forces included an airplane or a Humvee decorated with a Star of David.

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But insistence on keeping Israel isolated is a relic. It may have made sense when the Middle East was still preoccupied with the Arab-Israeli conflict. It makes less sense today, as that conflict becomes marginal compared with more pressing issues in the region, like the wars in Syria, Libya and Yemen, the rise of Islamic extremism and the Sunni-Shiite battle for supremacy.

At this point, Saudi Arabia and Israel have similar interests in keeping the Middle East stable. Israel and Egypt agree that no compromise is possible with Islamic State extremists. Israel and the United Arab Emirates both worry about Iran. If Arab countries are serious about wanting moderation and stability, they should no longer ask that Israel be excluded from the fight for a better Middle East. In fact, they should embrace Israeli participation and publicly acknowledge a fact that many of them privately admit: Israel is an ally — not an enemy.

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