Israel faces new era of sinking US support after election

BROADENING CRITICISM OF ISRAEL

The new Congress will include progressive Democrats such as Abdul El-Sayed, the first Muslim elected to the Senate, who describe the devastation in Gaza as genocide, an assertion rejected by Israel.

Netanyahu “made a bet not only on the Republicans but almost personally on Trump”, said Eli Kowaz, senior policy director of the Economic Cooperation Foundation, an Israeli think tank that backs a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

“These results show that bet had an expiry date,” Kowaz said. “Also, for the first time, really, I think there’s a realisation that it isn’t only about the Democrats. It’s a problem with the relationship with America.”

Without US assistance, Israel still has its own major arms industry and retains a clear edge fighting non-state actors such as Hamas and Hezbollah, said Ehud Eilam, a former researcher for the Israeli defence ministry.

But he said Israel would need to rely more on cheaper artillery or non-sophisticated bombs, further increasing risks of civilian casualties that have enraged international opinion.

“Israel can adjust to a new strategic reality of losing much and even all US military aid, but it will be tough for Israel. It will require Israel to consider hard choices such as taking huge loans or raising taxes,” Eilam said.

Kowaz said that Eisenkot, aware of politics in Washington, was trying to show he is interested in regional stability and strategic agreements and not just “an indefinite state of war”.

“He is definitely laying out a different vision for Israel’s relationship with the United States.”