Israel worries U.S. support is slipping amid Gaza, Iran tensions
New York primaries and Gaza backlash are fueling fear in Jerusalem that support for Israel inside the Democratic coalition is fading, especially among younger voters.
Chants of "Free, free Palestine!" rang out at victory parties after Tuesday's Democratic primaries in New York City. In Jerusalem, the June 24 results, alongside anger over the Gaza war and Donald Trump's push for an Iran peace deal, are fueling fears that Washington's backing may be slipping.
Candidates critical of Israel won or helped carry key races, and Zohran Mamdani backed several of them. The results accelerated the Democratic Party's debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. New York City is home to the world's largest Jewish population outside Israel.
Money flowed into the fight. AIPAC spent in several New York congressional primaries to bolster more pro-Israel candidates, while progressives treated the war in Gaza and the broader conflict as core campaign issues. The city also holds some of the most closely watched House contests in the country, including NY-12, the most Jewish district in the United States.
The unease in Israel is not limited to New York. Trump’s pursuit of a peace deal with Iran has alarmed many Israelis, who see it as a betrayal, and his repeated public criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu has deepened doubts about how much leverage Israel can still count on in the White House. That has made it harder in Israel to describe Trump as the unwavering ally many once assumed he would be.
Signs that the U.S.-Israeli relationship is fraying have dominated Israeli coverage, especially as support for Israel weakens among younger Democrats and progressives. Those worries are colliding with continued conflict tied to the Gaza war and the 2026 Iran war, along with Israeli elections expected later in 2026.
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