The Blue Wave
The dramatic wins by the Democratic Party in the mid-term elections in the United States were greeted with joy by many Americans who are tired of the chaotic, ruthless, autocratic rule of Donald Trump and his Republican cronies. While many Israelis looked enviously at the decisive election victory of the Democrats, wistfully wishing for such a result over here, many were more concerned about the election triumph of such openly anti-Israel candidates as incoming US Senator Abdul El-Sayed and incoming US Rep. Claire Valedz. Three of the newly elected Democratic Senators, including Abdul El Sayed, campaigned in part on an anti-Israel platform. The Times of Israel has identified 8 new Representatives to the House who have been critical of Israel, accused it of genocide in Gaza, or called for an end to arms for Israel. It should be noted that one of those named is incoming Rep. Brad Lander whose political views on Israel are like my own and whom I voted for by absentee ballot. All in all, the number of supporters of Israel in Congress remains much higher than the number of detractors who accuse Israel of genocide and want to end military aid. One theory being floated, perhaps to calm Israeli fears, is that with such a large majority, soon to be Speaker of the House, Hakeem Jeffries will not be held hostage by a small vociferous progressive minority pressing anti-Israel legislation as he will have more room to maneuver.
The concern, however, that Israel’s political position in US politics, which once was characterized by bi-partisan support, has waned, should not be taken lightly. Israel’s most important strategic asset, the unwavering support of the US government and a perception of being the most important ally to the US in the Middle East, has been eroded. It is not only because of the years of Netanyahu’s arrogant behavior towards Democratic Presidents Barak Obama and Joe Biden, his love affair with Donald Trump and the Republican Party, or the war in Iran. The deterioration of US relations with Israel is not only because of Israel constantly thumbing its nose at US policy by construction provocations like the E1 housing project on the West Bank or disregard for the Trump 20 Point Peace Plan. I think it goes much deeper.
The American people, including many in the Jewish Community do not see Israel as many in my generation and even a generation or so, following mine, saw Israel; as a small Democracy fighting for survival in a very unfriendly neighborhood. Most Americans today do not have a memory of the Six-Day War or the Yom Kippur War, nor does the Holocaust carry the same weight on hearts as it once did. While we in Israel still perceive ourselves as a country fighting for survival, especially after October 7th, many in the US perceive us as a war mongering, aggressive racist society intent on displacing the Palestinians from their homes and creating an apartheid society.
The exchange on X this week between Yesh Atid’s Yair Lapid and incoming Democratic Rep. Brad Lander is indicative of the gap between Israeli’s understanding of our situation and how Americans perceive us. Following the dramatic Democratic wins including many new anti-Israel politicians, Lapid posted a statement which urged Israeli leaders not to panic but to organize a “listening tour” across the US. He said that America is “not lost” and claimed that most Democrats are not anti-Israel but simply despise Netanyahu. I do agree that the Israel many progressive Americans dislike is the Israel that Netanyahu, more than anyone else has created, an Israel which carelessly kills non-combatant Palestinians in Gaza, and blatantly expands the occupation and the dispossession of Palestinians on the West Bank. However, getting rid of Netanyahu is not enough.
The Jewish incoming Rep. Brad Lander of NY, who describes himself as a progressive Zionist wrote on X, “Minister Lapid: As someone who won a seat in Congress last night, and who cares about Israel: you’re not listening to what American voters – Jewish and non-Jewish – are saying. We aren’t starving for a barnstorming tour. We’re hungry to see respect for international law and human rights.”
Lander is pointing out what many before him have pointed out, “Israel does not have a PR problem, Israel has a problem”. Before we worry about how to win back the support of the American people and the US Congress, we need to take a deep look at who we are as a country and who we want to be. Do we want to continue down the path towards becoming an apartheid state, disregarding international law, democratic norms, and human rights, or do we want to live up to the ideals expressed in our declaration of independence and the values expressed in our Jewish heritage? Instead of listening to the American people, we should listen to our own conscience which should be telling us that the oppression and occupation of the Palestinian people while offering no hope for a political resolution is both immoral and a tragic mistake. Switching Prime Ministers is a good start but it is only a first step.
