There is a glaring disconnect between Israel’s sagging popularity in the United States and President Donald Trump’s regard and respect for Israel.

By virtually every yardstick, Trump is the most pro-Israel president in American history.

During his first term, he moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, thereby earning the gratitude of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During his current presidency, the United States and Israel launched 38 days of joint air strikes in Iran, the first time they waged a war in unison. This unprecedented level of military cooperation was a milestone in the annals of Israel’s relations with the United States, its friend, ally and patron.

Yet ironically, Israel’s image in the United States has been seriously tarnished, if not damaged, during this period.

Public opinion polls indicate that, for the first time, most Americans, particularly those under the age of 30, hold unfavorable opinions of Israel and are more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.

Until quite recently, bipartisan support for Israel was taken for granted by Israel and its supporters. But in the past three years, following Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the progressive wing of the Democratic Party has grown increasingly cold to Israel. Even middle-of-the road Democrats have criticized Israel in unusually harsh terms. Much of their ire has been focused on Netanyahu and his right-wing government.

The emergence of a cadre of pro-Palestinian politicians within the Democratic fold risks “dooming the chances” that a Jewish candidate, such as Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro or former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, might win the party’s 2028 presidential nomination, writes Konrad Yakabuski in The Globe and Mail.

At the same time, isolationist voices within Trump’s Republican Party, ranging from Vice President JD Vance to podcaster Tucker Carlson, have either distanced themselves from Israel or denounced it in anti-Zionist rhetoric. Republicans of this stripe blame Israel for........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)