Analysis: WH believes CENTCOM relations with defense officials can help them install an alternative government in Gaza that would include the Palestinian Authority and enable others in the coalition to participate in running post war Gaza 

Almost four years after signing, Israel is now reaping one of the Abraham Accords most important fruits: the transference of its area responsibility from U.S. European Command (EUCOM) to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). As soon as the order was issued by the Pentagon, the IDF became an active partner in the pro-Western military coalition in the Middle East. Despite not being formal, this alliance holds operational implications exceeding those of NATO, of which North American and European countries are members. For Israel, the operational implication is the ability to benefit from intelligence and other military factors deployed by the Americans, in cooperation with Sunni Arab countries across the Middle East. We witnessed the first result on the night of April 13-14, as Iran and its proxies tried to attack Israel with missile and UAV barrages – and failed miserably. This can be attributed to the pro-American coalition that, under the instruction of (four-star) General Michael Corella, acted determinedly and efficiently as a unified and well-trained blow. A further implication of this move is that Israel and the United States can maintain their relations via two separate diplomatic channels: the civil-political channel between the Jerusalem and Washington administrations, replete with disagreements and crises, at least with President Joe Biden’s current Democratic administration and; the “diplomatic-military” channel where unanimity, cooperation devoid of egos and political interests prevail along with remarkable military professionalism.

This channel, run by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on the political level, and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and General Michael Kurilla at the operational level, allows for circumventing the problems arising from the murky relations between Netanyahu’s fully right-wing government and the liberal administration headed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

This was demonstrated in recent days with the acceleration of arms shipment from the United States. “Almost all the obstacles but one have been overcome,” says an Israeli official familiar with Israel-US military cooperation.