The Fissures Between Israel and the United States – A Red Flag?

_{The fissures between Israel and the United States have clearly expanded in recent months on the administration level as well as among the U.S. public. Thus, questions arise with regard to the robustness of the strategic alliance between the two nations in the years to come. Amid the manifestations of these trends are a sharp decline in Israel’s status within American society; the successful primary elections for Democratic candidates whose views are clearly anti-Israeli running in the congressional midterm elections; members of congress’ votes on Israel-related issues; and public criticism of Israel’s policy and conduct, even by Trump Administration officials.}

_{Moreover, there are large gaps between Israel and the United States on a wide range of regional matters. In fact, a significant dent has formed recently in Israel’s ability to impact President Trump’s policies, and it is clear that some of the decisions, particularly on the issue of Iran, are being made “over Israel’s head”. These gaps are apparent in the Trump Administration’s intent to advance the Gaza rebuilding processes, as well as its attempts to promote the signing of Israeli-Syrian security agreements. They are equally noticeable when considering the close ties President Trump shares with Erdogan, the U.S. President’s willingness to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal signed, and the poignant criticism on anti-Palestinian nationalist terrorism, including Israel’s policy vis-à-vis the Palestinians. These developments hinder the possibility of advancing President Trump’s deal-making approach in the Middle East, primarily normalization with Saudi Arabia.}  

_{Although it is not a new trend, the decline in support for Israel has certainly accelerated recently. President Trump himself said that the Jewish lobby’s sway in congress has dropped significantly over the last 15 years. There is a wide range of reasons for this waning support, at the basis of which are the in-depth changes undergone by American society, and the strengthening of radical factions within both Republican and Democratic parties, particularly progressive ones with anti-Israel views promoting anti-Israel stances. Moreover, the most common perception among parts of the American public is that Israel’s military actions in Gaza were disproportionate, and that, by avoiding advancing political processes, Israel is in fact dragging the United States into an overinvolved role in the Middle East, as seen in the war against Iran.}  

_{Furthermore, President Trump’s ties with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the profound and sharp differences the latter has had with Presidents Obama and Biden, contribute greatly to the drop in support for the State of Israel among Democrats. Qatar’s huge investment in American academic institutions over the last two decades, and the impact it is attempting to have on shaping the younger generation’s worldviews, should also be taken into account.}      

Public Opinion Polls – Support for Israel Takes a Nosedive    

_{Public opinion polls clearly indicate a sharp decline in support for Israel and the large gaps between Democrats and Republicans. The AP-NORC poll (June 2026), for example, shows that 58% of Democrats maintain that the United States is too supportive of Israel (a 13% increase from the previous poll conducted in January 2024) compared to just 21% of Republicans.}  

_{Yet the Democrats are not the only ones who have changed their attitude. Surveys reveal that Israel is starting to lose the extensive support it once had among young Republicans too. In a poll conducted by Politico (April 2026), 32% of Trump supporters aged 35 and under claim that the U.S. administration is too closely connected to the Israeli government (compared to just 11% over the age of 55). Similarly, about half of Trump supporters aged 34 and under argue that distance between Israel and the United States should be maintained even when the two are contending with shared threats (as opposed to a mere 13% over the age of 55). It is noteworthy that such levels of support among the younger generation are reflected amid young Jews and young evangelists too.}  

_{One of the implications of dwindling support for Israel is the consistent soar in support for the Palestinians. Gallop’s poll (February 2026) shows higher support for the Palestinians than for Israel for the first time in a quarter of a century. In 2001, 51% supported Israel compared to just 16% who supported the Palestinians, whereas in 2026, 36% of respondents said they supported Israel while 41% said they supported the Palestinians. This poll too reveals that gaps in support for Israel versus that given to the Palestinians among the younger generation are greater still. 53% of young respondents support the Palestinians, compared to just 23% who support Israel.}      

Voting for Anti-Israeli Candidates    

_{In recent months, candidates expressing radical anti-Israel views have been successfully elected in the primary elections held by the Democratic Party in preparation for the midterm congressional elections. One prominent manifestation is the election of Dr. Abdul el-Sayed as the Democratic Party’s candidate for one of the two seats in senate reserved for the State of Michigan. El-Sayed has garnered tremendous support among the younger generation, and is known for his poignant anti-Israel views, having stated that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.}  

_{Unlike the past, when midterm elections tended to focus on domestic issues, reflecting the public’s attitude toward the ruling party, in the current elections, support for Israel seems to play a role in some states and precincts’ voting patterns. This means that the midterm elections could serve as a test of Israel’s status in the eyes of the American public.}

        Votes in Congress    

_{The erosion in Israel’s standing can also be seen in a series of congressional votes. While the Senate did reject two resolutions proposed by Democratic senator Bernie Sanders to stop the sale of weapons and military equipment to Israel back in April, the most disconcerting fact is the unusual number - about 80% of Democratic senators - who supported both.} 

The Eroding Trump-Netanyahu Ties    

_{Another recent development is the erosion in ties between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump. One manifestation of it is the significantly fewer meetings and telephone conversations the two leaders share. President Trump has even avoided voicing his support of Netanyahu in the upcoming Israeli elections, and criticism of the Israeli Prime Minister’s policies and conduct can often be heard from Trump himself or various officials affiliated with him. This is a change from the approach previously fostered by the White House, whereby disagreements were concealed, and problems resolved behind the scenes.}  

_{Thus, Israel’s ability to impact the U.S. administration’s Middle East policies and conduct has lessened. In fact, President Trump seems to be advancing policies on matters that are essential to Israel’s national security without coordinating them properly in advance with the Israeli Prime Minister, as became clear with the 14-point agreement signed with Iran, or the Board of Peace’s roadmap for the disarming of Hamas. Another manifestation of this shift is the restrictions imposed by the U.S. administration on Israel’s military freedom of action on all major fronts, as the former fears that ongoing military actions could lead to war being renewed and regional escalation, forcing the United States to become heavily involved in the region, thus hindering Trump’s dealmaking efforts.}

Implications and Recommendations

_{The United States is a pillar of Israel’s national security, as demonstrated by the multidimensional assistance provided by the U.S. administration since October 7, and the joint military campaigns against Iran. Therefore, the steep and consistent drop in public support, as well as the large gaps with the administration, should be viewed as red flags with regard to the future of the two nations’ special relations.}  

_{Thus, maintaining the strategic alliance should be an overarching goal and top priority for the Israeli government. The latter must, first and foremost, seek to tighten its strategic coordination and multidimensional collaborations with the United States by setting joint objectives, and partaking in the Trump Administration’s extensive regional plans so as to enable the advancement of normalization and security agreements with countries in the region.}  

_{At the same time, Israel should also make use of the fact that it has a supportive president at the White House to draft an updated outline for the re-signing of the multiannual agreement (MoU) due to end in 2028.}  

_{On the internal American front, Israel should diversify its activity channels, and foster a more up-to-date approach toward the factions within the two parties. A distinction should be drawn, for instance, between young and old, evangelists and other religious groups, MAGA supporters and Republicans, various minority groups, and so on. Such a distinction is of great importance when forming the operating concept vis-à-vis these groups, as their attitude toward Israel stems from various aspects (religious, security, social, economic). Furthermore, ties with the various Jewish denominations in the United States should also be bolstered, and a special effort focused on the younger generation.}