For decades, Israel had virtually unanimous support among Republicans and Democrats in Congress, a reflection of a broader consensus in the United States in favor of strong backing for the Jewish state.
But that consensus began to fray several years ago and has recently threatened to unravel altogether as Democrats have shifted drastically and rapidly from unequivocal support for Israel, reflecting a sea change in Americans’ views.
Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the war in Gaza that followed, a growing number of Democrats have been under pressure from younger and progressive voters who are a crucial part of their base.
Lawmakers have begun rebuking Israel in ways that were once unimaginable. They have pointed to tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians killed in Gaza and focused much of their ire on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, whose actions and policies have left his country diplomatically isolated and who has become a political lightning rod in the United States. That has put at risk the bipartisan support for military aid that Israel has always counted on from American lawmakers.
A handful of far-right Republicans and libertarians in Congress have also questioned U.S. support for Israel, raising concern about Palestinian deaths and spending American money to defend a far-off ally. But the skepticism is far more widespread among Democrats.
The midterm elections have been shaped in part by Democratic voters’ mounting hostility toward Israel. Party leaders now view the issue as one of the major fault lines they will have to contend with next year if they win back control of Congress in November.
Over the past year, almost half of House Democrats voted to cut off aid to Israel. Democratic leaders who have long been staunch allies have said that the U.S.-Israeli relationship needs a fundamental reset, including a rethinking of the 10-year memorandum of understanding that commits billions of dollars of annual security aid to Israel, which will soon expire.
And Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, who is the highest-ranking Jewish official in the nation, has condemned Mr. Netanyahu on the Senate floor and called for new leadership in Israel.
In recent weeks, top Democrats in the House and the Senate have proposed legislation that would impose sanctions on Israel for building settlements, making clear to Israeli companies and banks that they could be penalized for ties to such activity.
Those moves are in line with what lawmakers are hearing from voters.
A New York Times/Siena national poll conducted in May found that 74 percent of Democratic voters opposed providing additional economic and military support to Israel. A Pew Research Center poll in April found that eight in 10 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents had an unfavorable view of Israel.
The post In Congress, Support for Israel Is Waning Among Democrats appeared first on New York Times.
