The Economist: Israel is losing support in the United States.
A British magazine points to a deterioration in relations between the two countries amid the genocide in Gaza and a shift in American public opinion.
247 - In an analysis published on Thursday (18), the British magazine The Economist, The article states that Israel risks losing the support of its most important ally, the United States, amidst the international isolation caused by the genocide in Gaza. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently declared, during a visit to the Western Wall alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, that the alliance with Washington is "as strong and durable as the stones" of the holy site, the reality highlighted by the magazine is different: the relationship is going through an unprecedented period of strain.
According to The Economist,Israel today relies almost exclusively on American support, while countries that were once close allies—such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and France—are moving toward recognizing a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly. The publication emphasizes that, without Washington's diplomatic protection, Israel would be closer to becoming an international pariah, with serious consequences for its political, legal, and military security.
Erosion of popular support in the US
Opinion polls reveal clear signs of a growing disengagement between the American population and Israel. According to the magazine, the proportion of citizens who have an unfavorable view of the country has reached 53%, compared to 42% in 2022. A survey by YouGov/The Economist The survey also showed that 43% of Americans believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Among Democrats over 50, negative views have increased by 23 percentage points in the last three years. Meanwhile, among Republicans under 50, support for Israel, which was 63% in 2022, is now evenly split between Israelis and Palestinians.
Even among evangelicals, traditionally seen as a base of loyal support for Israel, there was a significant drop. The study indicates that between 2018 and 2021, the proportion of young evangelicals who sided with Israelis fell from 69% to 34%, a trend that researchers believe has become established.
Divergences of values and interests
A The Economist, He explains that the erosion of Democratic support is primarily linked to issues of values. Many young voters project the history of slavery and colonialism in the US onto the situation experienced by Palestinians, while also observing the shift to the right in Israeli politics. In the Republican camp, the distancing stems from strategic and economic interests: there is growing dissatisfaction with the use of public resources to support foreign allies, including the approximately US$300 billion allocated to Israel since 1948.
The article notes that tensions have worsened with the war in Gaza, especially in light of images of starving children and the perception that Israel could drag the United States into new conflicts in the Middle East, particularly against Iran. The magazine also observes that the accusation of antisemitism, frequently used to dismiss criticism, has lost its force when applied indiscriminately.
Risk of structural failure
Although some analysts predict that the historic relationship will survive the current tensions, the The Economist, The article warns that profound shifts in public opinion are more difficult to reverse than disagreements between governments. It suggests that Joe Biden may have been the last "instinctively Zionist" American president, leaving uncertainty about the future of the alliance.
The military support, currently guaranteed by a ten-year agreement providing $3,8 billion annually, expires in 2028. Israel fears that the current US president, Donald Trump, will refuse to renew the commitment in the same terms, and seeks to reformulate the pact as a "partnership," more focused on technology and access to advanced weaponry.
An autocratic and risky vision.
The analysis concludes that it is not right to expect Netanyahu's departure to solve the problem. Israel, as a divided democracy, harbors powerful sectors that advocate for the expansion of settlements and even the annexation of Gaza and parts of the West Bank. In a recent speech, Netanyahu went so far as to define the country as a "super-Sparta," willing to stand alone against its enemies.
For The Economist,This path based on military self-sufficiency could turn into a fatal strategic error, capable of alienating Israel from its most important protector. "No mistake could be more dangerous," the magazine concludes.
