Netanyahu, Eisenkot Face Critical Choices Amid Shifting US Support
Political analyst Nadav Eyal suggests that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot are approaching pivotal moments in their election campaigns, with key political decisions potentially shaping the upcoming electoral landscape. These developments coincide with a notable shift in Israel's standing among the American public.
Netanyahu faces a dilemma regarding his relationship with hard-right parties within his bloc. While distancing himself from or reducing the influence of these factions could broaden his political base, it risks undermining the coalition he relies on, making any such move politically perilous as elections near. Eisenkot, conversely, must decide whether to maintain his current position and await political developments or to launch a significant political or security initiative that could alter the campaign's trajectory. Eyal posits that a bold move could grant Eisenkot new political leverage but might also alienate voters or affect his standing within the anti-Netanyahu camp. Inaction by Eisenkot could lead to continued infighting within the opposition, potentially jeopardizing smaller parties' chances of crossing the electoral threshold.
Eyal dedicates a portion of his analysis to the declining support for Israel in the United States, characterizing it as a strategic factor that must inform Israeli political calculations. He cites American polls indicating a decrease in support for Israel among Americans in recent years, with one Pew Research Center poll showing a further 23% drop in recent months. Another poll suggests 55% of Americans favor halting or reducing military aid to Israel.
This decline is contrasted with the strong support Israel enjoyed in the 1970s, when a 1976 poll showed 74% of Americans held a positive view of Israel. Eyal notes that by early 2026, the gap in favor of Israel had narrowed to just five percentage points, but this time in favor of Palestinians, according to the poll he references.
Eyal links this shift to how Israel employs its military power, arguing that while military strength is important, the political and diplomatic consequences of its use must be considered. He contrasts Israel's current approach with its behavior in the 1970s, when it was militarily strong but more attentive to the international image and American support. He acknowledges, however, that the decline in American support is not solely attributable to Israeli policy, citing changes within American society, domestic and international shifts, and the impact of the ongoing war.
Eyal frames the upcoming elections and the relationship with the United States as interconnected. Netanyahu must balance maintaining his right-wing alliances with expanding his political base, while Eisenkot faces the choice between proactive political engagement or waiting for the opposition's dynamics to unfold. The analysis concludes that declining US support for Israel, along with the war's repercussions and the relationship with Washington, will likely be prominent issues in future Israeli political discourse.
