Former Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Warns US Support for Israel Is Fading

Tamir Hayman, former head of Israeli Military Intelligence and current director of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), warned on Monday that Israel is gradually losing public support in the United States. Speaking at the National Security Conference hosted by Yedioth Ahronoth, ynet, and INSS, Hayman said the "safety net" that has historically prevented sanctions against Israel is disappearing. He described the situation as Israel balancing precariously while the scope of conflict expands.

Hayman highlighted a significant erosion of support among younger Americans, noting that 86% of Democrats under 50 hold a negative view of Israel, as do 56% of Republicans in the same age group. Among evangelical Christians, over half also view Israel negatively. The trend worsens among those under 30 and even more so under 25. He cautioned that this shift in public opinion will influence future US policymakers, including incoming senators and congress members, with growing support for the Palestinian narrative.

He also pointed to troubling trends within both the American right and left: antisemitism is rising on the right, while anti-Israel and anti-Zionist sentiments grow on the left, especially among youth. Young American Jews who support Israel reportedly fear identifying as Zionists, as the term is increasingly associated with fascism and other negative connotations.

Despite these challenges, Hayman believes the trend can be reversed. He urged Israel to strengthen ties with American Jewry, promote a vision of Israel as a small, innovative country striving for peace and security, and outline a clear path to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining strong relations with Europe, which remains integral to Israel’s economic, cultural, and security fabric.