| April 14, 2025 
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Ancient Rome in the Mediterranean. The Soviet Union in Eastern Europe. The United States in the Western Hemisphere, for that matter. History is rife with nations and empires seeking to become dominant in a region or larger swath of the world. It is called hegemony. Aaron David Miller and Steven Simon, two experts on the Middle East, argue that the moment has come to declare Israel a hegemon, or at least something that looks a lot like it. Israel has long been a leading military and economic power in the region. But the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, precipitated 18 months of Israeli military response that has led to crushing damage inflicted on its enemies — Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran — along with the devastation of Gaza. Power vacuums in Syria and Lebanon have led to new Israeli occupation of territory there — necessary, Israel says, for its security. In recent months, Israel has exercised its domination over neighboring land by occupying large areas of Gaza and displacing more than 40,000 Palestinians from the West Bank in a military operation. Miller and Simon take note of Israel’s new position in the region and the influences of its domestic politics on that position, and examine what it means for the prospects of peace deals, or at least improved relationships, and America’s ability to help bring them about. They are not always optimistic. Read the guest essay: Here’s what we’re focusing on today: |
