Israeli opposition cites US Democratic win as sign of waning support for Netanyahu
Opposition leaders in Israel pointed to the Democratic Party's control of the U.S. Congress as evidence that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lost bipartisan backing, while the caretaker government awaits coalition talks.
Israeli opposition parties highlighted the Democratic Party's majorities in both chambers of the U.S. Congress as an indication that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has eroded long-standing bipartisan support for Israel. The U.S. midterm elections occurred a week after Israel’s recent parliamentary vote, in which Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc lost its majority but remained the largest faction, preventing a clear path for challenger Gadi Eisenkot.
President Donald Trump, who endorsed Netanyahu, pledged on election day to halt the $4 billion in annual U.S. military aid to Israel, describing the move as eliminating a point of criticism used by Democrats.
Yair Golan, head of the centre-left Democrats party, wrote on X that the U.S. results “reveal just how toxic Netanyahu is among both Democrats and Republicans.” Centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid said the outcome shows “Israel cannot afford” for Netanyahu to stay in office, adding that it “endangers our security, jeopardises our democracy, and will ruin our standing on the global stage.”
Netanyahu has not commented on the U.S. vote, and his office declined a request for a statement. Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to meet party representatives on Wednesday and Thursday to task one of the two leaders with forming the next government. If coalition talks fail, a new election could be called.
Political science professor Udi Sommer of Tel Aviv University warned that a Democratic-controlled Congress could become the most adversarial toward Israel in history, noting that while most foreign-policy authority rests with the president, Congress can exert pressure through hearings, oversight and budget measures.
"The Democratic landslide and the Republican wipeout encapsulate the next chapter in US-Israel relations," Sommer said.