US SUPPORT WAVERS FOR LONGSTANDING ALLY
The United States has been Israel’s staunchest ally for generations under presidents of both parties, providing billions of dollars a year in military aid since the 1970s. But unlike previous leaders who assiduously courted Democrats and Republicans alike, Netanyahu has openly backed Republicans.
Support for Israel among Democrats and some Republicans wavered after Israel launched its military assault in Gaza following the 2023 Hamas attack, and fell further this year since Trump and Netanyahu ordered a joint attack on Iran.
Some Democratic candidates made criticism of American military aid to Israel a prominent campaign argument. On Tuesday, Trump, who had endorsed Netanyahu, made an election-day pledge to halt US$4 billion in annual funding to Israel, a move he said would take away a “bad talking point” used by Democrats.
Yair Golan, head of Israel’s centre-left opposition Democrats party, said on X that the US midterm election results “reveal just how toxic Netanyahu is among both Democrats and Republicans”.
Centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid said the results showed “Israel cannot afford” for Netanyahu to remain in office.
“It endangers our security, it jeopardises our democracy, and it will ruin our standing on the global stage,” Lapid said in a social media post.
