How united American support for Netanyahu has ebbed away

Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the US Congress last week demonstrated the closeness of the US-Israel relationship and his personal popularity with some members of the legislature, but protesters inside and outside the Capitol also provided a historic display of opposition to the Israeli prime minister and how he has conducted the war in Gaza.

Few foreign leaders are invited to speak to a joint session of Congress: this was Netanyahu’s fourth time, more than any other leader — a sign of both his political longevity and the nature of the US-Israel relationship. His fiery oration was punctuated by a series of standing ovations from Republican members of Congress. Later, he held discussions at the White House with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, and in Florida with former President Donald Trump.

While his trip demonstrated Netanyahu’s significant influence in Washington, the protests surrounding it highlighted a changing reality in US foreign policy: Republicans remain firmly behind Israel and its current leadership, while Democrats increasingly object to Netanyahu and are questioning the US relationship with his country. Some Democrats remain unconditionally pro-Israel and continue to embrace Netanyahu, but some younger or more progressive Democrats have become strongly critical, and some traditional Democratic allies of Israel are more open than in the past to publicly questioning Israeli leadership.

About half of Democratic members of Congress boycotted Netanyahu’s speech, including strong critics of Israel’s conduct in Gaza such as high-profile progressives Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Other Democrats who did not attend remain broadly pro-Israel but are fed up with Netanyahu: they include former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Representative Jim Clyburn and Senator Dick Durbin.

While his trip demonstrated Netanyahu’s significant influence in Washington, the protests surrounding it highlighted a changing reality in US foreign policy.

Kerry Boyd Anderson

Bipartisan congressional support for Netanyahu was slipping even before the Gaza war. In 2015, he addressed a joint session at the invitation of Republican leaders, but Democrats widely saw his speech as a snub directed at President Barack Obama, particularly as Netanyahu spoke out against the nuclear deal with Iran. Some Democrats refused to attend for that reason.

The devastating nature of the war in Gaza, combined with other factors, has exacerbated a partisan divide in attitudes toward Israel in general and Netanyahu in particular. That was starkly clear on Wednesday, as only one Republican member of Congress boycotted the speech while nearly half of Democrats did. Furthermore, some of the Democrats who attended did so reluctantly, saying they supported Israel but opposed Netanyahu. Few joined in the standing ovations. Representative Rashida Tlaib , the only Palestinian American in Congress, attended only as a form of protest, wearing a keffiyeh and holding up protest signs.

Beyond Congress, thousands of Americans gathered in Washington to protest against the prime minister’s visit, to call for an end to the war and the release of hostages, and to oppose arming Israel with US weapons. Most of the protests were planned and coordinated with authorities, and proceeded peacefully. There were a few clashes with law enforcement that involved the use of pepper spray and led to a few arrests: among those detained were relatives of hostages in Gaza who believe Netanyahu is intentionally preventing a hostage release and ceasefire deal with Hamas to protect his own political interests. Many anti-Netanyahu protesters inside Israel believe the same.

In his speech, Netanyahu excoriated the protesters, who he accused of standing with Hamas and of being “Iran’s useful idiots.” He said they “should be ashamed of themselves” and denigrated their understanding of geography and history. Republicans applauded loudly, particularly at his accusations against Iran. Some also strongly criticized members of Congress who protested, and other protesters too.

If Republicans win the White House and do well in Congress in November’s elections, Washington is likely to remain firmly behind Israel and probably behind Netanyahu, although Trump’s relationship with Netanyahu is complicated. If the Democrats win, there is potential for substantive change.

• Kerry Boyd Anderson is an analyst of international security issues and Middle East political and business risk. Twitter: @KBAresearch