The fact that the relationship between Israel and the USA is currently anything but easy is evident from how important the issue of Israel was in the midterms. And this in turn concerns the Israeli public.
Yael Sternhell, who directs the American Studies program at Tel Aviv University, told KAN radio: "Israel was a central issue in these elections, and the fact that the American public has moved so far to the left - including on the Israel issue - makes it abundantly clear how important Israel is in American public opinion."
Contradictory statements from Trump
Contradictory statements from US President Donald Trump also show that it is complicated. Before last week's Israeli parliamentary election, he came forward twice to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Finally, on the day of the US midterm elections, Trump made a completely different announcement on Fox News: "As far as payments to Israel are concerned: Bibi Netanyahu and I had an agreement that we would give Israel four billion dollars a year." However, a few months ago it was agreed to stop these payments. That's fine for Israel, "because the country has developed very successfully and is no longer dependent on it. So we will no longer make payments to Israel."
There was talk of US military aid to Israel. They've been around for decades. The USA recently transferred 3.8 billion dollars per year. The contract actually runs until the end of 2028. But the Israeli government is reportedly surprised that it will apparently end for Donald Trump at the end of this year. Israel is considered militarily dependent on the USA and would probably not have been able to wage its recent wars in the region without military aid.
Netanyahu as a problem factor for US relations
Netanyahu's policies, the opposition in Israel accuses, are responsible for deteriorating relations with the USA. Yair Lapid, who was prime minister before Netanyahu and now wants to be part of a government that replaces him, wrote on Platform X that Israel cannot afford for Netanyahu to remain head of government. This endangers security, democracy and will “shatter Israel in the world.”
The US elections and the announced end of military aid come at a time of complicated government formation in Israel with an unclear majority. And because Netanyahu wants to remain prime minister and has promoted this with his good relations with the USA, his loyal followers are trying to dispel the allegations.
“President Trump will be the President of the USA for another two years,” says Miki Zohar, acting Minister of Culture, on Army Radio. "And for the next two years, when he still has power and the ability to push many things forward as well as veto decisions that, God forbid, could harm Israel, I would not recommend Yair Lapid to jump to conclusions about the relationship between President Trump and Netanyahu and between the US and Israel in general."
But there is great unrest: because the issue has an influence on the formation of a government and because the relationship between Israel and the USA is ultimately a security issue.
Ariel Sender is an American-Israeli and represents the Republicans, Trump's party, in Israel. In view of the defeat of many Republican candidates in the USA, he is self-critical: "Israel could be partly responsible for some of these failures - because of the Iran issue." This is not healthy, neither for Israel nor for Jews in the USA, said Sender.
What is particularly difficult for many potential Republican voters is the fact that Israel - despite all the tensions between the USA and Israel in connection with the Iran issue - also receives four billion dollars in military aid every year.
This could be over by the end of the year. In Israel, many are still hoping that it is one of those Trump announcements that in the end are not worth much. But the question could also influence the formation of a government. In any case, Netanyahu will now have a very difficult time continuing to score points with his very special relationship with the USA.
