<<Knocking down the WTC didn't threaten the existence of the U.S. either. What's your point?>

The point, which I made well but maybe not as simply as I could is this -

In the past, when matters got tense and fighting started, the Arabian nations came down on the side of the Palestinians with military power. There was war.

One side would attack the other, both of them starting it.

Under those conditions the existence of Israel was an issue. Each side was trying to invade the lands of the other.

Now a key here is "war". Military actions on both sides. Had the Arabian nations occupied Israel the nature of the nation could have changed. Israel herself was threatened. In the past.

As the situation over there deteriorated, it became realistic to believe the US may have to come to the direct aid of Israel. Or, that the Soviet Union would come to the direct aid of an Arabian nation. If one or the other did that, it could force a countermove.

Then, in the well-known "retribution-reretribution-rereretribution-rerereretribution" cycle, WWIII could start.

Therefore, it was in the best interests of the US and Soviet Union, in the best interests of Israel and the Arabian states, for the action to be limited.

Additionally, Israel was heavily, very heavily, dependent upon the US for ordnance. They fought well, on many fronts, and were so aggressive they ran through munitions like mad.

The Soviet Union wouldn't supply Israel. The US would, and could, and did. However, had Israel ignored the US, they could have run out of stuff.

So, the US would wait until the Israelis had done the damage they wanted, and then pulled the leash before it could turn into a World War. Israel listened, and acted on US suggestions.

Now, however, the situation is different. There is apparently no threat of the Arabians going to war over this.

Since it takes less in the way of munitions to attack a civilian population than a military opponent, the Israelis aren't going to run out of ammo. And if they did, they could just go home.

Therefore, because of the collapse of the former Soviet Union, with no threat of escalation into a general war, in this situation the US doesn't have the leverage it has had in the past.

Capice?

Arf