Fact Check: Daniel Byman, from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, stated that Israel's move represents a new willingness to go against American preferences in the region.

Fact Check: "Daniel Byman, from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, stated that Israel's move represents a new willingness to go against American preferences in the region."

What We Know

The claim attributes a statement to Daniel Byman, a professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, suggesting that Israel is increasingly willing to act contrary to American preferences in the Middle East. Daniel Byman is a well-respected expert in Middle Eastern security and counterterrorism, with a background that includes roles at the Brookings Institution and the RAND Corporation, as well as participation in significant U.S. government commissions, including the 9/11 Commission (source-1, source-2).

However, the specific statement regarding Israel's willingness to defy American preferences is not directly cited in the available sources. The context of Byman's work often involves analysis of U.S.-Israel relations and the dynamics of Middle Eastern politics, but without direct evidence of him making this claim, we cannot confirm its accuracy.

Analysis

The reliability of the claim hinges on whether Daniel Byman actually made the statement in question. While Byman's credentials lend weight to his opinions on Middle Eastern affairs, the absence of a direct quote or a specific reference to the claim makes it difficult to assess its validity. The sources available do not provide a direct citation of Byman making this assertion about Israel's actions.

Moreover, the context of U.S.-Israel relations is complex, with historical instances of both alignment and divergence in policy preferences. For instance, Israel has occasionally taken actions that the U.S. government did not fully endorse, such as settlement expansions in the West Bank. However, these actions are often framed within a broader strategic context that may not necessarily reflect a "new willingness" to act against U.S. preferences but rather a continuation of established patterns in Israeli policy (source-3).

Given that the claim lacks direct attribution and specific context from Byman himself, it raises questions about its accuracy and the potential for misinterpretation of his views.

Conclusion

Needs Research: The claim that Daniel Byman stated Israel is showing a new willingness to act against American preferences in the region lacks direct evidence and citation. While Byman is a credible expert, without a specific reference to his words or writings, we cannot definitively validate the claim. Further investigation into his recent statements or publications would be necessary to clarify his position on this matter.

Sources

1. Daniel Byman - Georgetown Faculty Directory
2. Daniel L. Byman - Brookings Institution
3. House Hearing, 114 Congress
4. Trump struggles with Iran message as Republicans ...
5. Daniel Byman - Wikipedia
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7. Maximum Impact: Assessing the Effectiveness of the State ...
8. Daniel Byman | C-SPAN.org