Netanyahu Collapses U.S. Bipartisan Support for Israel
SkimNews Take
Netanyahu's policies have shifted the political cost of supporting Israel from a foreign policy calculation to a domestic electoral liability for U.S. politicians, particularly concerning younger voters.
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- Netanyahu is rapidly eroding American public and congressional support for Israel, with Israel's favorability collapsing across nearly every demographic group since 2022 as the Iran war accelerates the deterioration.
- 40 Senate Democrats voted this week on a resolution to block arms sales to Israel, up from just 15 on a similar vote last April, and every Senate Democrat eyeing a 2028 presidential run voted against the sales.
- Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) told Punchbowl News that Netanyahu is "destroying the bipartisan nature in terms of support for Israel."
- House Democrats are turning against defensive support for Israel, including Iron Dome funding — something Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) said was "seen as insanely fringe four years ago," with multiple Democrats who voted for Iron Dome in 2021 now saying they're done providing financial aid.
- Israel's favorability is down 31 points among older Democrats (50+), 22 points among both younger Republicans and younger Democrats, and even white Evangelical support has slid 15 points from 80% in 2022, per Pew polling.
- Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) said Congress needs to have a discussion about "how to normalize that relationship and what change is necessary."
Why it matters: The collapse of bipartisan support — once the bedrock of U.S. Middle East policy — means future Israeli aid packages, arms sales, and diplomatic backing now face far steeper congressional hurdles, with every potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender on record opposing arms transfers and even Iron Dome funding losing its untouchable status.
