Traditional support for Israel within the Democratic Party is facing serious erosion in the U.S. Congress. According to Reuters, a motion to cut military aid to Israel was rejected in the House of Representatives despite winning the support of nearly half of Democrats.
Polls Show Declining Support
Polls revealing that backing for Israel is slipping among Democratic voters underscore the divisions within the party. A June Quinnipiac University survey found that 48% of all voters and 66% of Democrats believe the U.S. supports Israel too much. Those figures stood at 16% and 20%, respectively, in 2017.
Chris Coons, a leading Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Reuters he hopes the elections to be held in Israel in October will restore bipartisanship. "Netanyahu has kept Israel at war for years to avoid his own political consequences," Coons said.
Critical Test in Michigan
This shift in the Democratic Party will face a major test in Tuesday's Senate primary in Michigan. The race between progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Representative Haley Stevens mirrors the party's split over Israel policy.
In a video produced with AIPAC's support, Stevens argued that close ties with Israel bring trade and economic growth, while El-Sayed told Fox News, "The issue is whether we want to send our money to finance genocide and apartheid in Israel instead of investing in our own children."
Impact in Other Districts
The Israel rift is also playing out in critical districts in New York, Florida and Colorado. In New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for Netanyahu's arrest on war crimes allegations. In Colorado, long-serving Representative Diana DeGette lost a primary to Ethiopian-born Melat Kiros, who advocates halting military aid to Israel.
Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Danny Danon stated, "Yes, there is a lively debate, but support for Israel still remains mainstream across large segments of both parties."
Background and Paradigm Shift
The strain over Democratic support for Israel began 11 years ago when Netanyahu, speaking at Congress at the invitation of Republicans, criticized then‑President Barack Obama's Iran nuclear deal. After Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack, Israel's bombardment of Gaza led to a further erosion of support. According to Gaza health officials, over 73,000 Palestinians have lost their lives.
Shibley Telhami, a professor at the University of Maryland, described the situation as "a paradigm shift in which Israel is now seen as an oppressor, even a genocidal oppressor."
