You know the apple of his eye is a pun in Hebrew don't you, It also means the iris of the eye. I suspect this is the prophecy that Israel cannot trust America, that their trust should be in the LORD directly. It is also a promise that the Nations that mess with Israel, will pay dearly, no matter who they are.
Yes, I've heard that it is a pun, someone explained it to me a while back. Your interpretation of Zechariah is right on the money, exactly right. I fear that our foolish government is going to try to shaft Israel one time too many and end up being confronted in some manner by the Lord. Bush's "evangelical christianity" has no credibility with me due to all this hooie about Israel having to give up land and permit a "contiguous" PA state. I voted for a third party in the last election, and with this stuff going on, I'm glad I did. I wasn't in a battleground state, so I felt in conscience I could vote third party. I know this, Kerry would be even worse. I hate to think of what that no-count Catholic-in-name-only carpetbagger would have cooked up.