A report by the American newspaper The Washington Post has revealed an unprecedented crack in the “historic consensus” surrounding support for Israel within political circles in Washington, saying the alliance that for decades stood above partisan disputes has now become a source of deep division within both the Democratic and Republican parties.
The newspaper said the Democratic Party is witnessing the biggest shift, as criticism of Israel is no longer confined to closed-door discussions but has become a central part of political discourse during primary elections.
The report noted that terms such as “genocide” are now being openly used to describe the war in Gaza, while the traditional influence of lobbying groups such as AIPAC has begun to weaken, with support from such organisations increasingly viewed as an “electoral burden” in some constituencies.
Within the Republican Party, the report identified divisions linked to the “America First” movement. Conservative media and political figures have increasingly criticised deep US involvement in supporting wars linked to Israel, arguing that such foreign conflicts drain state resources and pull the United States into confrontations that do not directly serve American citizens’ interests.
The Washington Post cited recent opinion polls showing a historic decline in positive views of Israel, particularly among young people and Democratic voters.
The figures also showed a widening “generational gap”, with younger generations adopting more critical positions towards Israeli policies compared with older generations.
The report concluded that the future of US support for Israel is no longer as guaranteed as it once was, but is now tied to demographic changes and growing partisan polarisation within the United States.
