How Netanyahu lost America
For decades, Benjamin Netanyahu cultivated an image unlike any other Israeli leader. Fluent in American political language, equally comfortable in Washington think tanks and television studios, he understood that Israel’s greatest strategic asset was not merely military superiority but enduring bipartisan support in the United States. That asset is no longer what it once was. Netanyahu’s political success at home has increasingly coincided with Israel’s declining popularity across broad sections of American society. While successive US administrations have continued to back Israel’s security, public opinion has undergone a profound transformation. Polls now consistently show growing skepticism toward both Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and Netanyahu’s leadership, particularly among younger Americans and Democrats. This shift did not occur overnight. It was the product of years of political choices. Perhaps Netanyahu’s most consequential gamble was aligning Israel so closely with one side of America’s deeply polarized political spectrum. His 2015 speech to the US Congress, delivered over the objections of President Barack Obama, marked a turning point. Although applauded by Republicans, it convinced many Democrats that Israel had become a partisan issue rather than a shared strategic commitment. Historically, bipartisan support insulated the US-Israel relationship from electoral cycles. Netanyahu gradually weakened that consensus. The Gaza war accelerated trends already underway. Images of widespread destruction, mounting civilian casualties and a worsening humanitarian crisis dominated global media. University campuses erupted in protest. Progressive activists demanded conditions on US military aid, while even many moderate Americans began questioning whether unwavering support remained consistent with their values. Surveys show increasingly negative perceptions of both Israel and Netanyahu, especially among younger voters in both major political parties. For Israel, this is a strategic challenge that extends beyond the current conflict. American public opinion has historically shaped long-term foreign policy. Congressional majorities may still support........
