Law intended to expand security cooperation with Israel becomes target of antisemitic conspiracy theories in the US

An American bill to expand security-technological cooperation between the US and Israel has been transformed on social media into a conspiracy theory claiming that Israel, and subsequently the Jews, will take over the American military. This is the conclusion of a report by the Fighting Online Antisemitism (FOA) movement, published in August 2026, which analyzes Section 219 of the US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The report clarifies that the section does not involve a merger of the militaries, but rather the establishment of a mechanism within the Pentagon to coordinate and accelerate bilateral cooperation in the development and procurement of security technologies. According to FOA, on social media—primarily on X—the proposal was gradually misrepresented: shifting from 'integration' to 'merger,' and ultimately to claims of Israeli or Jewish control over the American government.

Legislative Context

On July 22, the US House of Representatives approved H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027, totaling $1.15 trillion. The proposal passed by a vote of 216 to 212 and is currently headed to the Senate. The act is a broad piece of legislation covering hundreds of areas, including the military use of artificial intelligence, service member pay, and regional issues in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East.

Section 219 is intended to identify technologies developed jointly or originating in Israel that could benefit American systems, transition applied research to procurement, create licensing frameworks, and encourage joint production within the US. Areas of cooperation include missile and air defense, anti-drone systems, anti-tunnel technology, AI, cyber defense, and logistics. This cooperation builds on a long history of successful joint programs, such as the Arrow, David's Sling, and Iron Dome systems, which have provided the US with valuable technical data and operational experience.

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The Spread of Disinformation

According to the report, the narrative entered mainstream political debate through Republican Congressman Thomas Massie. Initially, he discussed the integration of military technology and supply chains, but after the House vote, he labeled the section a 'betrayal of American sovereignty.' Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene escalated the rhetoric, describing the proposal as a merger of the two militaries and an act of treason. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert claimed Pentagon officials could use Section 219 to hand over American secrets, despite the section containing explicit requirements to protect sensitive technology and classified information.

The term 'Merge' was subsequently adopted by major influencer accounts. Tucker Carlson accused Congress of preparing to merge the American military with the IDF, while other accounts framed the issue using phrases like 'Israel First,' 'controlled by AIPAC,' 'foreign occupation,' and 'Mossad blackmail.' The messages eventually became explicitly antisemitic, labeling the US a 'Zionist Occupied Government' (ZOG) or the 'United States of Israel.' The report details the use of tropes such as 'Rothschilds,' 'Khazarian mafia,' and accusations of 'dual loyalty.'

Platform Response

The most concerning finding in the report is the inability of major social networks to address this viral hatred. On the X platform, out of 40 violating posts reported by the organization, only 6 were removed (15%). On Meta's Facebook, out of 25 reported posts, only 5 were removed (20%).

In its recommendations, FOA calls for real-time monitoring and fact-checking to prevent false narratives from taking root. The organization also urges platforms to improve the identification of coded antisemitic conspiracy theories, ensuring they address not only explicit hate speech but also disguised antisemitic disinformation.