Israeli official says Iran conflict harmed both Israel and U.S. administration

A senior Israeli official told reporters that the war in Iran, which was intended to destabilise Tehran, instead contributed to the defeat of the Republican Party in the recent U.S. midterm elections and prompted a shift in the U.S. administration’s policy toward Israel.

Vice President JD Vance posted on social media that a pollster identified four reasons for the Republican loss: ending the war, cost-of-living concerns, an "America first" agenda, and a reassessment of the U.S.–Israel relationship.

Following the election, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. military aid to Israel would be halted beginning next year, stating that the decision was initiated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to the Israeli official, Netanyahu responded by further distancing the two countries, a move made without prior consultation and through irregular channels. The official warned that reduced American support could have broader diplomatic and security implications for Israel.

The article also noted internal Israeli debates over election integrity, with Shin Bet chief David Zini calling for a thorough investigation of alleged fraud and foreign interference, while Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara emphasized adherence to legal procedures.

Netanyahu has called for national unity after the election, but opposition leaders argue that genuine unity would require concessions from his Likud party and its allies.