US Columnist Urges Israelis to Replace Netanyahu Amid Shifting US Support

Renowned American columnist Thomas Friedman has sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging Israelis to seek a change in leadership to avoid a dangerous deterioration in relations with the United States. Friedman warned in The New York Times that maintaining the current political course could lead to a prolonged crisis, as American support for Israel is no longer unconditional.

Friedman drew a parallel between Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting Israelis learn from the recent U.S. midterm election results, which he characterized as a protest against Trump's behavior. He argued that the era of broad, almost automatic U.S. backing for Israeli governments is ending, citing growing dissatisfaction in the U.S. over the use of American military aid and specific Israeli government actions in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria.

Friedman proposed former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot as a potential alternative to Netanyahu, calling for opposition forces to unite around him to form a new government. He also advocated for cooperation with Mansour Abbas's Ra'am party, believing Arab political participation could shift Israel's internal policy. The columnist criticized Netanyahu's rhetoric towards Arab citizens of Israel as discriminatory and praised the contributions of Arab medical workers.

This commentary comes amid complex coalition negotiations following the October 27 Knesset elections. President Isaac Herzog tasked Gadi Eisenkot with attempting to form a government, but neither major bloc holds a clear majority. The Yish Atid party and its partners secured 48 seats, while Netanyahu's bloc has 53. The 19 seats held by Arab parties could be decisive, but forming an alternative coalition remains challenging due to internal disagreements.