A journey between pessimism and optimism in the US

A few days ago, I returned to Israel from a journey through Jewish communities across the United States. I met anxious people – nervousness both about the changes happening in their country and about what’s happening here in Israel.

American Jewry, the vast majority of which is liberal, is experiencing a dual crisis with enormous intensity. On the one hand, they are well aware of Trump’s attempt to reshape America – making it less democratic and less tolerant. The United States is moving away from the fundamental values of the Founding Fathers to a regime that violates human and civil rights, persecutes immigrants, restricts freedom of expression, and undermines the foundations of democracy and science.

That has never ended well for the Jewish people.

On the other hand, they watch as the State of Israel, the homeland of the Jewish people, the country they still love, also descends toward an authoritarian regime, bordering on dictatorship, under a government that, in the name of messianic and racist ideas, is waging an endless war with no moral boundaries.

From abandoning hostages and sowing death and destruction in Gaza, to supporting the growing pogroms carried out by violent settlers in the West Bank. They are watching on in horror.

They are also concerned about the implications of what Israel is doing in Gaza for them as Jews who see Israel as part of their identity – both morally and in terms of American public opinion toward them.

At the same time, American Jews are facing off against more and more voices fueling antisemitism on the left and right for their own ends – antisemitic conspiracy theories, antisemitic violence, and a growing sense of insecurity.

They are very concerned about the way Trump is weaponizing antisemitism to attack institutions of higher education and immigration, both of which are significant foundations of the remarkable success of American Jewry, and they are also worried that they will be blamed for Trump’s attacks on other minorities.

In this difficult reality, I try to instill a little optimism. To convince them that everything can be saved, hope is not misplaced, and that there are many elements that can lead to positive change, as follows:

• While an extremist government that glorifies war and occupation is in power in Israel, an unprecedented regional coalition of moderate Arab states is forming against it. These countries recognize the danger of jihadism and are working to integrate Israel into a regional framework that will include a demilitarized Palestinian state and normalization of relations with Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia.
• Simultaneously, a sense of urgency finally emerged among European countries, which also contributes to the advancement of a regional political process. Their widespread recognition of a Palestinian state is a central part of this process – a practical anchoring of the two-state solution, which is essential for the future of the Jewish people’s democratic nation-state and constitutes another step toward turning it from a vision into reality.
• There is also room for hope within the United States itself. There is a generational shift happening in the Democratic Party: alongside an enduring commitment to Israel’s security, there is an understanding of the need to make a clear distinction between Israel and the current right-wing government. This separation creates a firm stance against Netanyahu and the religious right while refusing to give a “blank check” for annexation, expulsion, and the perpetuation of the occupation.

• The polls show that most of the Jewish community shares this view – although Jewish organizations and federations are still far from it, and one of the important tasks of the liberal Jewish public is to change this.
• In the United States, it appears that Democrats are beginning to recover from last year’s election loss and are responding to Trump by using similar tactics, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom’s initiative to redraw congressional district maps to support Democratic candidates, which mirrors Trump’s efforts in red states.
• In Israel itself, a broad liberal public that opposes the government’s policies possesses an unquenchable democratic spirit. While the public continues to reel from the trauma of October 7th and remains confused about the Palestinian issue, the fall of Netanyahu’s government will force even a right-wing government like Bennett to confront an international shift that ensures regional normalization alongside the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state. When the government moves in this direction, ensuring the strengthening of state security through political means, the public, which yearns for peace and security, will follow suit.
• Another reason for optimism is the rift that is beginning to form between our right-wing government and the Trump administration, despite the fake show of unity after yesterday’s meeting. Trump’s 21-point plan, which is starting to take shape, clarifies that you cannot consistently lie to everyone, contrary to Netanyahu’s belief that he could continue doing so. Even Trump is beginning to understand that Netanyahu and Dermer are selling him a false spin about the “complete victory” over Hamas, and he seems more determined than ever to end the war and allow the regional process to move forward. This time, the focus is on moving forward with the Palestinians, unlike the Abraham Accords, which excluded them. The inclusion of a Palestinian entity in Gaza and the path towards Palestinian statehood will create a political challenge to Netanyahu’s coalition and might expedite early elections.

We are living in a difficult time, but precisely because of this, it is our duty, as liberal citizens of Israel and liberal Jews in the United States, not to fall into despair and to continue working hard together to accelerate political processes in the Middle East, alongside safeguarding democracy in our countries.