A former diplomat argues that decades of U.S. presidents have sided with Israel over Arab interests — bad news for anyone hoping for a more balanced Middle East policy.

• The claim: every recent U.S. president except George H.W. Bush has been pro-Israel in practice, going back past Kennedy and Eisenhower.
• Israel is described as acting more like an adversary than an ally, spying on the U.S. even while officially friendly.
• The real leverage is said to be less about blackmail and more about steady political pressure over decades.
• Groups like AIPAC are named as pushing this influence in the White House and Congress.
• Criticizing Netanyahu personally now gets people labeled anti-Semitic, which shuts down debate.

Outlook: No sign of this dynamic shifting soon, with pro-Israel policy deeply set in both parties.