Democratic Backlash Over U.S. Aid to Israel

Support for Israel among Democratic voters has fallen sharply, prompting a partisan rift over the long-standing U.S. assistance program. A June Quinnipiac University poll found 48 % of voters and 66 % of Democrats now say the United States is “too supportive” of Israel, up from 16 % and 20 % when the question was first asked in 2017. In a recent House vote, nearly half of Democratic representatives backed a failed amendment to cut off aid—a measure that would have previously faced overwhelming bipartisan opposition.

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The erosion is playing out in primaries. In Michigan, progressive former health official Abdul El-Sayed is challenging Rep. Haley Stevens, who defended the U.S.–Israel relationship in a video produced with AIPAC. In Florida, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a consistent aid supporter, faces democratic-socialist challenger Oliver Larkin on August 18, with polls showing Moskowitz ahead by 32 points. Colorado’s long-time Rep. Diana DeGette lost to Melat Kiros, who calls for ending all wars, including U.S. military aid to Israel.

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Israel receives $3.8 billion annually in U.S. military aid, plus additional emergency funds in recent years. The Gaza conflict, sparked by the October 7 2023 Hamas attack that killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, has resulted in more than 73,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza health officials. These figures have intensified scrutiny of U.S. policy among younger and progressive Democrats.

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Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he hopes the October Israeli elections will “restore bipartisan U.S. “New governments get to change direction,” — Chris Coons, of Delaware, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon argued that despite the debate. “Yes, there is a vigorous debate, but across broad segments of the parties, support for Israel remains firmly in the mainstream,” — Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, in an interview Senator Mazie Hirono expressed that “I think the support for Israel's right to exist, all of that is there. It's just the (Israeli) leadership we seriously question.” — U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono

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• “New governments get to change direction,” — Chris Coons, of Delaware, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

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• “Yes, there is a vigorous debate, but across broad segments of the parties, support for Israel remains firmly in the mainstream,” — Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, in an interview

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• “I think the support for Israel's right to exist, all of that is there. It's just the (Israeli) leadership we seriously question.” — U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono

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