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Could the US midterms further isolate Israel in Washington?
Democrats won majorities in both chambers of Congress in the US midterms, as voters punished Republicans over the war with Iran and the rising cost of living. The results could encourage stronger criticism of Israel in Washington, although analysts say a broad Republican break with Benjamin Netanyahu’s government remains unlikely.
About six in 10 voters surveyed by The Associated Press said the decision to go to war with Iran was wrong, while living costs were also a major voting issue. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won a Senate seat after calling for an end to US military aid to Israel, despite a vigorous campaign against him backed by pro-Israel interests. A report found that AIPAC’s political committees spent $84.1m on races, with $55.3m going to contests where their preferred candidate lost.
In short
- Voters linked the Iran war and rising costs to Republican losses.
- El-Sayed won in Michigan while opposing US military aid to Israel.
- AIPAC-backed committees spent $84.1m, with most on losing races.
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The case for
The Democratic gains may give lawmakers more room to question the scale and conditions of US support for Israel, particularly if voters are increasingly concerned about the war’s costs and consequences. El-Sayed’s victory despite substantial spending against him could also suggest that some voters are receptive to candidates who call for ending military aid, strengthening pressure on Washington to reassess its approach.
The case against
A change in Congress need not produce a major break with Netanyahu’s government: many Republicans remain supportive, and longstanding strategic ties and security concerns can sustain bipartisan backing for Israel. The election results also appear to have been driven chiefly by opposition to the Iran war and the cost of living, so they do not necessarily show that voters were rejecting US support for Israel.
Explained simply
The United States holds midterm elections halfway through a president’s four-year term. Voters choose all 435 members of the House of Representatives and about a third of the Senate; control of either chamber can affect what laws pass and how Congress oversees the government.
Israel receives US military aid and has long had support from both major parties in Washington, though lawmakers differ over the terms of that support and the Israeli government’s policies. AIPAC is a pro-Israel advocacy group that seeks to influence US policy and elections, including through political committees that spend money on campaigns.
The war in Iran and the cost of living were prominent issues for voters, while some Democrats have called for changes to US aid to Israel. Any shift in Congress could shape debate over that aid and relations with Israel, but lawmakers’ views and party control do not by themselves determine US policy.
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