The Democratic Party is undergoing a rapid and profound shift away from its traditionally strong support for Israel, with growing internal divisions and an increasing number of lawmakers adopting more critical positions, according to a Wall Street Journal opinion column.
Senate Vote Signals Turning Point
In an article titled “Democrats Unite Against Israel,” columnist Matthew Continetti pointed to a recent US Senate vote on a resolution introduced by progressive senator Bernie Sanders seeking to block the sale of military equipment to the Israeli occupation entity.
Continetti highlighted a sharp rise in support for restricting military aid to Israel within the Democratic Party: from 19 senators in 2024 to 24 in 2025 and reaching 40 out of 47 in 2026—an indication of a significant internal shift.
He argued that Israel has become a “loyalty test” within the party, where support is no longer politically advantageous but increasingly a liability—particularly for politicians pursuing higher office.
According to the column, Democratic candidates are now competing to demonstrate tougher stances on Israel to appeal to the party’s base, especially younger voters and progressives.
Polling data reinforces this trend, showing that a substantial share of Americans—particularly Democrats—hold unfavorable views of Israel, with a clear partisan divide between Republicans and Democrats. Sympathy for Palestinians is also rising among younger generations.
A recent poll found that 60% – including 3/4 of Democrats and 2/3 of independents – oppose the U.S. sending arms to Israel.
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) April 15, 2026
That is why today, I am forcing the Senate to vote on two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval – the only formal mechanism Congress has to block an arms sale. pic.twitter.com/a8yOj1RBJs
Growing Criticism Among Party Elites
The shift extends to the party’s political leadership, with several figures adopting more critical positions on Israel, including calls to halt arms sales or reject support from pro-Israel lobbying groups. Continetti described this as evidence of a deeper ideological transformation within the party.
At the same time, some Democrats continue to voice strong support for the Israeli occupation entity, including Senator John Fetterman, who said he is prepared to be “the last Democrat standing with Israel,” underscoring the party’s internal divide.
Continetti concluded that the debate over “Israel” reflects a broader discussion about US identity and its global role, warning that declining support for “Israel” could carry far-reaching political, strategic, and moral implications.
Israeli Concerns Over Waning Support
In a related context, Zionist journalist Tzipi Shmilovitz, writing last week in Yedioth Ahronoth, warned that Israel’s standing in the West is deteriorating not only in Europe but also in the United States—long considered its most critical ally.
In her article, “Israel’s Position in the United States Is Worse Than You Think,” Shmilovitz argued that this decline is not sudden but rather “the culmination of a process spanning nearly 20 years without any attempt to stop it.”
Citing a Pew Research Center survey, she noted that 60% of Americans now hold unfavorable views of Israel—including 41% of Republicans—calling the findings “catastrophic by any standard.”
More concerning, she wrote, is the shift among younger Republicans, with 57% of those aged 18 to 49 expressing negative views—suggesting that the erosion of support is no longer confined to liberal or Democratic circles.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)