Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, is facing serious challenges from his political rivals. These political rivals point to the Democrats' victory in the U.S. Congress and consider it a sign of the erosion of bipartisan support for Israel. They are looking for an opportunity to form a government without Netanyahu.
Electoral Consequences in Israel
The results of the U.S. midterm elections, in which the Democrats managed to gain a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, represent a serious blow to Netanyahu's policies. These elections were somewhat a reaction to Donald Trump's policies and the unintended war that Americans have expressed dissatisfaction with.
The U.S. elections were held just a week after the elections in Israel. In this election, Netanyahu's right-wing coalition lost its parliamentary majority, but performed well enough to prevent his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, from winning.
The Impact of the U.S. Elections on Domestic Politics in Israel
Israel will soon host talks with Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, aimed at determining one of the two rivals to form the next government. In the meantime, Netanyahu remains at the helm as the interim Prime Minister.
The United States, as one of Israel's most important supporters in history, has provided billions of dollars in military aid to the country. However, Netanyahu has openly supported the Republicans, which has caused dissatisfaction among Democrats. Some Democratic candidates have made criticism of U.S. military aid to Israel one of the main focuses of their campaigns.
Yair Golan, the leader of the center-left Democratic Party in Israel, noted that the results of the U.S. midterm elections indicate the level of tension Netanyahu faces among Democrats and Republicans. Yair Lapid, the opposition leader, also emphasized that Netanyahu should not remain in his position as it jeopardizes Israel's security and democracy.
While Netanyahu has remained silent about the results of the U.S. elections, political analysts predict that the Democrat-controlled Congress is likely to be one of the most challenging periods in U.S.-Israel relations.
If neither of the two rivals succeeds in forming a new coalition, new elections may be held in Israel. The current situation in the country could lead to major developments that may have profound impacts on its domestic policies and international relations.
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