That's not true. Basically all modern technologies that are used across Europe are US made/dependent - the continent is totally reliant on the US for it's innovation. Our phones/chips, our search engines, our email, our banking systems, our e-commerce... it's all American really. And that's not to begin mentioning all the security equipment and pharmaceuticals that are imported. Yes, China supplies us with the low cost goods and materials - but the US is at the backbone of our critical digital infrastructures and finances. This makes the relationship "special" in the sense that we are more reliant on the US than any other major global economy for our day-to-day lives.
Trump's perceived indifference to Europe (hopefully just perceived!) comes from his knowledge that US firms are providing the backbone to Europe's infrastructure and security with little wriggle room for Europe to transition away in a timeframe that doesn't massively weaken the continent from both a financial and security perspective. Europe simply doesn't have the means to innovate at the pace and necessity like the US or China - the closest disruptive innovation hub Europe has cultural and secure access to is probably Tel Aviv. I'm glad Merz is showing a backbone as I think this is necessary for Trump to actually take leaders on the continent seriously.
Your point about is Israel-US relations is also totally incorrect. US-Israel special relations - by a modern definition - only began flourishing in the 80s. Before then there was even a high level of suspicion from the US as there were concerns Israel could fall into the sphere of influence of the USSR. In the 1960s, for instance, food aid was the only provisions being made to Israel by the US - and US arms were sold to both Israel and their adversaries. This point also doesn't acknowledge the very special relationship that undoubtedly existed between the US and UK in the interim and post-war period.
