Israeli opposition leaders are using Democrats’ midterm victories to argue that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has eroded U.S. support for Israel, making relations with Washington a central issue in coalition efforts.
Al Jazeera reported that Democrats won majorities in the Senate and House on Tuesday. The outlet said frustration over the U.S.-Israel war on Iran contributed to the result. Israel’s election the previous week weakened Netanyahu’s parliamentary position, but opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot did not gain a clear route to replace him.
President Donald Trump, who endorsed Netanyahu in Israel’s election, pledged Tuesday to halt $4 billion in annual funding for Israel. Trump said the pledge would remove what he called a “bad talking point” for Democrats. Some Democratic candidates had criticized U.S. military aid to Israel during the war in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported.
Annual U.S. military assistance to Israel dates to the 1970s and continued through administrations led by both parties. Netanyahu has openly sided with Republicans, according to Al Jazeera. Lapid said Israel should return to working with both parties, arguing that the bipartisan approach broke down when Netanyahu addressed Congress in 2015 to oppose the Iran nuclear deal then-President Barack Obama was negotiating.
Lapid, a former prime minister, said Wednesday that Israel “cannot afford” to keep Netanyahu in office. In a social media post, he wrote that Netanyahu’s continued leadership “endangers our security” and “will ruin our standing on the global stage.”
Eisenkot said he would seek to restore bipartisan ties and expand cooperation with Washington. Democrats leader Yair Golan said the U.S. vote showed how “toxic” Netanyahu had become among Democrats and Republicans. Golan warned that continued rule by Netanyahu’s far-right government could lead to sanctions, international isolation and a confrontation with the United States.
The opposition is seeking to form a government, including through an agreement between the Joint List and Democrats to work together to try to replace Netanyahu’s government. The promises to rebuild U.S. ties depend on the opposition forming Israel’s next government.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) said 234 candidates it backed won. The group said it would increase support for Democrats and Republicans who believe a strong partnership with Israel contributes to both countries’ security.
