US Shock Rocks Israel: Opposition Reshapes Ties with Washington to Oust Netanyahu

A Guardian analysis published today, Saturday, noted that a sweeping victory for Democrats in the US Congressional elections could make it easier for the fragmented Israeli opposition to overcome deep internal divisions, form a coalition government, and unite to remove Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been closely associated with the Republicans led by US President Donald Trump.

The analysis explained that some advocates for change within Israel found a glimmer of hope in the Democratic victory, provided the Israeli opposition can convert its mandate for change into a new government after winning 67 seats out of 120 in the Knesset.

Long-term Shift
While Israel assessed the results, there was also a sense that the elections represent a long-term shift in American politics that will make the task of any new Israeli leader more difficult.

The United States provides Israel with crucial military and diplomatic support, so strengthening ties between the Republican and Democratic parties has been a cornerstone of foreign policy for decades. However, Netanyahu broke this commitment and joined the ranks of Republicans generally, and Trump specifically, according to the report.

The Israeli opposition has long criticized Netanyahu's decision, describing it as ill-advised. Prominent opposition politician Yair Lapid, speaking about the new Democratic lawmakers, said: "These people are not against Israel; they are primarily against Netanyahu, and everything related to him is considered dangerous to them."

Lapid laid out a plan to rebuild trust with the United States, but it may have done more than just reassure Israelis, as it highlighted the scale of the problem, according to the report.

Voter Anger
Shortly after the US election results emerged, Vice President JD Vance placed the relationship with Israel on a shortlist of reasons for voter anger. On Election Day, Trump made a last-ditch attempt to woo voters by pledging to cut $4 billion from annual military aid to Tel Aviv.

The announcement caused panic within the Israeli defense establishment. One official told Channel 12: "When the Israeli Air Force commander hears such news, he might commit suicide. Where will we secure 15 billion shekels annually? What does that mean for the future Israeli defense budget?"

Netanyahu did not respond directly to Trump's pledge except to state that it was a joint decision reflecting Israel's economic strength. His office said in a statement that this shows a shift from aid to partnership.

Netanyahu has long boasted about his relationship with Trump, his fluency in English, and his experience in the United States, presenting himself as the only man with the international standing necessary to ensure Israel's security.

In contrast to what Netanyahu boasts, following the US elections, he is viewed in Israel as closer to being one of the factors destroying the relationship between the two countries. Political analyst Ben Caspit wrote in the Hebrew newspaper Maariv: "One thing is clear: We are losing America."