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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political rivals are seeking to use the Democrats’ victory in the US midterm elections to strengthen their campaign to remove him from power, arguing that his policies have damaged Israel’s traditionally bipartisan support in Washington.
Democrats secured majorities in both the US Senate and House of Representatives in Tuesday’s midterm elections, dealing a major setback to President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.
Frustration over the unpopular US-Israeli war on Iran contributed to the Democrats’ gains.
The US election results came just a week after Israel’s general election, in which Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition lost its parliamentary majority but performed well enough to prevent his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, from securing a clear path to forming a government.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to hold consultations with representatives of political parties on Wednesday and Thursday before asking either Netanyahu or Eisenkot to form the next government. Netanyahu remains prime minister in a caretaker capacity.
Growing criticism of Netanyahu
Israel’s opposition leaders have seized on the US election outcome, arguing that Netanyahu has undermined the country’s longstanding relationship with both Democrats and Republicans.
Yair Golan, leader of Israel’s centre-left opposition Democrats party, said the US midterm results demonstrated how unpopular Netanyahu had become across the American political spectrum.
Centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid also said the results showed that Israel could not afford to keep Netanyahu in office.
He warned that Netanyahu’s continued leadership endangered Israel’s security, weakened its democracy and threatened its international standing.
The United States has been Israel’s strongest ally for generations, providing billions of dollars annually in military assistance since the 1970s.
However, support for Israel among Democrats and some Republicans has weakened following its military campaign in Gaza after the October 2023 Hamas attack.
The joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran has further strained that support.
Unlike previous Israeli leaders who maintained close ties with both major US political parties, Netanyahu has openly aligned himself with Republicans.
Uncertain political future
It could take weeks or even months to determine whether Netanyahu or Eisenkot will be able to form Israel’s next government.
The candidate chosen first must secure sufficient support to build a governing coalition. If that attempt fails, the other candidate will get an opportunity. Should both fail, Israel could face another election.
Meanwhile, Udi Sommer, a professor of political science at Tel Aviv University, predicted that the incoming Democratic-controlled US Congress could become the most adversarial towards Israel in its history.
Although the US president retains most foreign policy powers, Democrats could increase pressure on Israel through congressional hearings, oversight measures and budgetary decisions.
“The Democratic landslide and the Republican wipeout encapsulate the next chapter in US-Israel relations,” Sommer said.