Israel allows the US to play “good cop / bad cop” with the rest of the region. Israel is willing to do what the US can’t / won’t do (due to diplomatic and domestic reasons). If you try to go against US interests, Israel is there to make your life hell until you relent. Israel has zero compunction about bombing, slaughtering civilians, assassinating leaders, etc. But bend the knee to the US and then you can be Israel’s “friend” too.