It's simultaneously:

1. The broader U.S. imperial apparatus (e.g., the State Department) understands Israel's importance for the U.S. and backs it for that reason
2. All sorts of minor U.S. politicians who don't really influence foreign policy face a major hurdle from AIPAC if they don't sufficiently support Israel

The U.S. is predominantly running the show, but Israel has agency too, and its state policy involves filtering out U.S. politicians who might oppose its interests as early as possible. This includes a massive amount of pro-Israel propaganda intended for mainstream consumption, harassing professors at colleges, etc.

Nope. If anything people should have been completely convinced by now that I am right over the past 20 months. The 'aircraft carrier' is the cheap excuse from the same guy who destroyed the US global reputation so Israel can do genocide.

Are we watching the US and Europe destroying their entire reputation so Israel can do a genocide or not? Nobody can explain this away with convenience factor. This genocide is in no way beneficial to the empire.

Christian Zionists such as Genocide Joe are indeed also a reason this is happening, but they too do not support Israel for any pragmatic cause which would benefit the empire such as being an aircraft carrier.

Countries such as Egypt, UAE and Saudi are infinitely more obedient than Israel which does things like the USS liberty and selling American secrets to Russia.