Israeli Support in US Erodes Due to Government Policy, Not Critics

Support for Israel within American politics is gradually weakening, affecting both the Democratic and Republican parties, according to observer Shlomo Shamir. He argues that the primary threat to bilateral relations stems not from individual anti-Israel politicians, but from a shift in attitudes towards the policies of the current Israeli government. Shamir suggests that Israeli media overemphasizes the victories of vocal critics in US primaries, distracting from more significant internal party shifts. For instance, while Abdul Al-Sayed, a critic of Israel, won a Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, Shamir believes such individual politicians have limited influence on party leadership, citing Senators Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as examples of vocal critics whose impact on official Democratic policy is contained. A more concerning trend, according to Shamir, is the waning support among lawmakers previously friendly to Israel. He points to a congressional vote on an initiative to limit US aid to Israel, where 103 Democrats supported the amendment, as evidence of deeper shifts in sentiment than primary election outcomes. This trend is not confined to Democrats, as recent polls indicate declining support for Israel among Republican supporters as well. Shamir attributes this decline primarily to the policies of the current Israeli government, particularly the composition of its coalition and the influence of its right-wing members, citing conversations with American political commentators and diplomats. He cautions against attributing all criticism of Israel to antisemitism, distinguishing between anti-Jewish hatred and political disagreement with Israeli leadership's actions. Shamir emphasizes that traditional public relations efforts will not restore support if the government's political course remains unchanged, suggesting that deeper changes, potentially including a change in government, are necessary to improve relations with the US political establishment.