Guillaume Ancel: “Without the United States, Israel could not defend itself”

The myth of a self-sufficient Israeli power was seriously damaged on the airwaves of France Info. Invited to comment on the relations between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, former French officer Guillaume Ancel recalled a reality rarely highlighted in public debate: Israel remains deeply dependent on the United States for its military survival. Asked whether Benjamin Netanyahu could disobey Donald Trump, Guillaume Ancel responded bluntly: “Honestly, he can’t. He can do it for two hours, but no more. »
According to him, the Israeli state is “extraordinarily dependent” on Washington financially, militarily and technologically. A dependence which appears even more evident since the escalation of tensions with Iran. To intercept Iranian missiles targeting its territory, Israel massively mobilizes equipment and resources provided by the United States. “All American production is directed towards Israel,” underlined the former officer, adding that without this massive support, the Jewish state would no longer be able to effectively deal with the salvos of missiles fired by Tehran.
This analysis highlights an often hidden paradox: presented as one of the greatest military powers in the region, Israel does not have the strategic autonomy that would allow it to sustain a high-intensity conflict alone. Behind the image of an army deemed invincible, a much less flattering reality emerges: that of a state whose security relies largely on the political, financial and military support of its American ally. Guillaume Ancel nevertheless believes that the current war has left its mark on the relations between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, a relationship today “probably a little damaged” by the differences that emerged around the conduct of the conflict.
Guillaume Ancel: “Israel is extraordinarily dependent on the USA from a financial and military point of view. (…) If Israel did not have the United States behind them, they would no longer be able to defend themselves from these Iranian missiles” pic.twitter.com/c86mipETcz
— Oumma.com (@oumma) June 9, 2026
