Democratic support for Israel, once a bedrock of American politics, is now deeply fractured amid growing outrage over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the Gaza war. Recent scenes of devastation in Gaza and Netanyahu's right-wing policies have pushed many Democrats, including moderates, to back measures seeking to restrict arms sales to Israel, though these efforts ultimately failed. This marks an unprecedented rebuke of the Israeli government from within the party, as public opinion polls show Democratic approval of Israel's military actions has plummeted to historic lows. The debate now centers on whether this shift is a temporary reaction to the war or signals a lasting realignment in the party's stance toward Israel, with some Democrats emphasizing the distinction between supporting Israel as a nation and opposing its current government. Meanwhile, a generational divide is emerging among Republicans as well, though party leaders insist their support for Israel remains strong.

Original article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/31/us/politics/democrats-israel-gaza-netanyahu.html
Source Id: 2025-07-792926541