Prof. Jeffrey Sachs : Is the Greater Israel Project Collapsing?

Overview

Professor Jeffrey Sachs argues that the U.S.-led “American primacy” project—and, by extension, Israel’s ability to operate as though it has “greater Israel” ambitions—has become unsustainable and is beginning to collapse politically and financially.

Key Claims

Undeclared war and limited democratic control

Sachs begins by arguing that the U.S. routinely wages undeclared, unconstitutional wars with little public input, and that presidents do not truly control foreign policy.

Instead, he claims foreign policy is shaped by a “deep state” architecture, strongly guided by intelligence agencies, alongside the military-industrial complex, which benefits from perpetual war.

Washington’s logic of power

A major portion of Sachs’s analysis focuses on how Washington conceptualizes power, which he says is well explained by Zbigniew Brzezinski’s 1997 “Grand Chessboard” framework.

In this view, the U.S. pursues dominance across Eurasia—“America as number one bully of the world”—by using “geopolitical pivot states” to pressure adversaries.

Sachs cites examples including:

• Ukraine (and allegedly the push for NATO expansion toward Russia)
• Iran
• Actions intended to hinder China

He argues these plans were “wrong” in expected outcomes:

• Russia and Iran resist rather than yield
• China does not collapse despite sanctions and trade wars

Sachs concludes that Washington’s strategy generates enemies and instability rather than compliance.

Application to Israel and Netanyahu

Sachs applies this framework to Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that:

• Netanyahu is likely nearing the end of his political era, though the replacement “may not be better.”
• Israel is acting with impunity and behaving “despicably,” including actions he describes as genocidal and illegal under international standards (especially in the West Bank).
• Escalations and wars around Iran are tied to protecting Israel—implying an “undeclared war on Iran” driven by Israeli and strategic pressures rather than U.S. security.

Political and Economic Collapse

Sachs argues the collapse is not only political but also economic:

• The U.S. is amassing debt and financial bubbles.
• Corporations connected to war procurement (including big tech/defense-linked systems) profit.

He suggests that perpetual war spending, lack of transparency, and market overvaluation create conditions for a future crisis.

Is the “Greater Israel Project” Collapsing?

Sachs says it is collapsing to the extent that U.S. backing is weakening. He claims:

• The American public—including young people and broader opinion—is increasingly disgusted with Israel’s actions.
• European publics are also shifting.

He warns that because nuclear powers exist, the process could still end in catastrophe. Still, he emphasizes that the current system “doesn’t work” and is not sustainable, arguing wars should stop through diplomacy and accountability.

Presenters/Contributors

• Judge Andrew Napolitano
• Professor Jeffrey Sachs