Israel Becomes Political Burden in Both Major U.S. Parties Amid Rising Anti-Israel Sentiment

Israel has increasingly become a political liability within both the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States, with anti-Israel sentiment spreading from university campuses to Congress and even evangelical churches, traditionally strong supporters of Israel. This shift is highlighted in a commentary by Professor Yossi Shain, who attended a conference in Normandy commemorating Alexis de Tocqueville’s legacy, where Israel was notably absent from discussions.

Within the Democratic Party, the rise of progressive and democratic socialist factions has led to growing hostility toward Israel. Donna Brazile, former chair of the Democratic National Committee, described the party as being in turmoil, with anti-Israel rhetoric becoming openly antisemitic. Key Democratic figures and voters increasingly view Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government as war criminals responsible for unnecessary conflicts, with some Democrats advocating sanctions and even arrests of Israeli officials. The party’s traditional pro-Israel base has weakened, partly due to organizational changes since Barack Obama’s presidency and the influence of figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Mayor Eric Adams, who have fostered anti-Israel narratives.

On the Republican side, the party’s traditional structure has also eroded since Donald Trump’s first election in 2016. Trump’s MAGA movement, which embraces a post-liberal, nationalist Christian identity, initially supported Israel strongly, recognizing Jerusalem as its capital and endorsing territorial claims. However, internal Republican divisions have emerged, with some factions blaming Netanyahu for dragging the U.S. into conflicts and accusing pro-Israel lobbies of distorting American Christian identity. The death of pro-Israel Senator Lindsey Graham leaves a smaller but still significant group of Republican supporters such as Senators Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, and Bill Hagerty.

Anti-Israel sentiment is also penetrating evangelical Christian communities, traditionally staunch allies of Israel, raising concerns among Jewish activists. The growing hostility toward Israel within both parties reflects broader political and ideological shifts in the U.S., with potential consequences for American foreign policy and Jewish communities.

Professor Shain’s analysis underscores that Israel’s political standing in the U.S. is deteriorating amid complex domestic political realignments, with no clear opposition to these trends within either party at present.