US Election Loss Forces Israeli Leaders to Rethink Washington Support
A drop in American aid and shifting public opinion are complicating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's path to a majority in the Knesset.
By Martin Reynolds ·
American voters' rejection of President Donald Trump's party in the recent midterm elections has altered the political calculation in Israel. The shift in Washington power dynamics now directly impacts the domestic fight over who will lead the next Israeli government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu campaigned on the strength of his relationship with the United States, a bond reinforced by Trump's endorsement and a joint military campaign against Iran earlier this year. That strategy assumed continued, unconditional American backing. The midterms disrupted that assumption by signaling a potential withdrawal of support.
The timeline of these events began in April when a Pew Research Center poll indicated that American public opinion of Israel had become as negative as their view of Netanyahu. This sentiment likely contributed to the Republican defeat in the November midterms. Following the election, Trump announced that US military aid to Israel would end, a decision opposition figures suggest was the price of his earlier endorsement.
The immediate consequence is a financial strain on Israel. Security analyst Ahron Bregman noted that with the annual $3.8 billion in aid ceasing, the defense budget, already 7 percent of GDP, will face pressure. He warned that the cost will be felt by ordinary Israelis in their daily lives.
The October 27 general election left the Knesset fractured. Netanyahu's right-wing bloc secured 53 seats, falling eight seats short of the 61 required for a majority. The opposition bloc led by former army chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats. Arab-led parties, including the United Arab List and the Joint List, hold 19 seats combined and have pledged support for Eisenkot.
On Thursday, United Torah Judaism, Netanyahu's long-time ultra-Orthodox ally, declined to recommend any candidate for the role of prime minister. This was the first time since 2009 that the party did not back Netanyahu or another specific figure. The move removes a potential path for the incumbent to assemble a coalition and strengthens the position of the opposition.
Yair Lapid, a former prime minister and member of the anti-Netanyahu bloc, argued that US voters are reacting to the image of Israel under Netanyahu's leadership. He stated on social media that Americans are against the policies and rhetoric of his government, viewing anything connected to Netanyahu as politically toxic.
Avigdor Lieberman, another opposition leader, pointed to the financial aspect of the alliance. He wrote on social media that the end of aid represents the price paid for Trump's support, suggesting a trade-off between political endorsement and financial assistance.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has not yet nominated a candidate to form a government. Eisenkot's bloc has previously ruled out forming a unity government with Netanyahu. Pollster Shibley Telhami noted that even if Eisenkot takes office, reversing the decline in American popularity will be difficult. He said that any new government would face a rising tide of negative public opinion that makes returning to the relationship of five years ago unlikely.
The next step in the process rests with President Herzog. He must decide which politician receives the mandate to attempt to form a government. The outcome will determine whether Israel continues under a leader whose primary asset was American support, or shifts to an administration that must navigate a more complex relationship with Washington.
