Israelis fear for future of US support after midterm backlash against Trump

Israel's opposition parties are urging for a change in their relationship with the United States following the Democratic Party's sweeping victories in midterm elections. President Donald Trump's inner circle, which supported Israel in the past, is now expressing concern over potential waning US support for the country. The midterms coincided with a surge of pro-Israel voters turning to the Democrats, who are known for their skepticism towards Israel.

The fear is that Israel could become increasingly isolated, as other key allies distance themselves from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative government. Despite these challenges, Netanyahu's coalition has overseen a series of conflicts, including the war in Gaza, violence in the West Bank, and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

The US has long provided Israel with military aid and diplomatic support, with about 200,000 American citizens living in the country. In a surprising announcement on election day, Trump declared his intention to end military aid to Israel by the end of 2026. According to Vice President JD Vance, the election's defeat can be attributed to the ongoing war in Iran, which was met with global disapproval.

Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr, echoed Vance's assessment, stating that all four key policies that could win back Trump voters - ending the war, addressing inflation, putting America first, and changing the relationship with Israel - were "100 per cent, 100 per cent, 100 per cent." Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has formed a "national emergency government" in response to the electoral outcome, calling for a reevaluation of Israel's diplomatic standing.