by Victor Davis Hanson

About the author: Victor Davis Hanson is the author of Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise of Western Power.

The Muslim world is mystified as to why Americans support the existence of Israel. Some critics in the Middle East excuse “the American people,” while castigating our government. In their eyes, our official policy could not really reflect grassroots opinion. Others misinformed spin elaborate conspiracy theories involving the power of joint Mossad-CIA plots, Old Testament fundamentalists, international bankers, and Jewish control of Hollywood, the media, and the U.S. Congress. But why does an overwhelming majority of Americans (according to most polls between 60 and 70% of the electorate) support Israel—and more rather than less so after [the attacks on] September 11, 2001? The...