Utolsó frissítés: 2026.07.09. — Szerző: Anti-Propaganda News Blog
The former Obama administration official is expected to run for president in 2028; his speech reflects the changing mood within the Democratic Party.
Rahm Emanuel, a Democratic politician and former mayor of Chicago who is expected to run for president in 2028, stated that Israel should no longer expect unconditional support from the United States.
In a speech at Tel Aviv University on Wednesday, he also sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
„Unconditional support resulted in a prime minister who assumed that pursuing his strategic interests would not incur political costs by ignoring America’s concerns about the colonies and sparking a regional war,” Emanuel said.
In light of this dynamic, Emanuel argued that the US-Israeli bond needs to be reassessed. „We need a fundamentally new and different approach to this alliance,” he declared.
The comments mark a significant shift to the left by Emanuel. A longtime member of the Democratic Party establishment, Emanuel has played a key role in shaping U.S.-Israeli relations, serving as an adviser to President Bill Clinton on peace negotiations in the 1990s and as Barack Obama’s chief of staff on Middle East policy from 2009 to 2010.
However, since then, polls have shown that Democratic voters are increasingly critical of Israel, especially after the 2023 Gaza war, which has claimed the lives of at least 73,000 Palestinians.
Emanuel, 66, pointed to these US polls and the fact that support for Israel is also falling in Europe in his speech on Wednesday. He warned that US-Israeli relations are at a „crossroads” and that „significant changes, a new direction” are needed.
„For too long, American policy toward Israel has operated on the assumption that Washington would do best for Jerusalem by standing blindly and silently behind their government, without conditions, demands, or consequences, even when we disagreed,” he said. „That was our mistake.”
Emanuel highlighted several areas of concern in his speech. He mentioned the violent expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which violates international law, and Israel’s attempts to block aid to war-torn Gaza. These measures, Emanuel warned, have made Israel a „pariah” on the world stage.
„Let me be very clear: The United States cannot continue to fund and support such cynicism with its silence,” he said. „You cannot fight endlessly against a world that no longer believes you have the right to fight. Instead, you must find a new, sustainable path to peace, security, and prosperity. America stands ready to help.”
Emanuel added that he supports sanctions against Israelis who attack Palestinian civilians and their property, as well as against officials who support violence, and "against any construction company or bank that builds or finances illegal settlements.".
At the same time, he also made critical remarks about Israel's Arab neighbors. Emanuel called on Arab countries to take responsibility for the creation of a Palestinian state, while acknowledging Israel's historical attachment to the land.
„The two-state solution has lost its credibility and should be replaced by a 23-state solution,” Emanuel said. „The 21 Arab nations that have used Palestinian rights as a slogan for decades must now roll up their sleeves [and] create a governing authority that can accept the historic Jewish connection to the Land of Israel.”
Changing views
Many observers say the speech demonstrates a shift in attitude within the Democratic Party, where US-Israeli relations were long considered sacrosanct.
Emanuel, whose father was born in Jerusalem, has long been a critic of Netanyahu but has not been known to openly support tying U.S. aid to Israel with conditions. On the contrary, as Obama's chief of staff, he helped oversee the initial funding of Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.
James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute in Washington, said: „I assume this is an attempt to jumpstart the presidential campaign by addressing an issue that has become a central theme in Democratic Party politics for the first time.”
An AP-NORC poll released earlier this week underscored the changing sentiment among American voters regarding Israel: 58 percent of Democrats feel the U.S. is „too supportive of Israel,” up from 45 percent in January 2024. More than half of Democrats surveyed said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Recent primaries have also reflected shifting opinions: Progressive candidates critical of US-Israeli policy have also won in New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado.
Zogby noted that candidates must "tread the line," meaning they must find a balance between the expectations of voters and the interests of big donors, including the pro-Israel lobby, so as not to run afoul of "big money.".
Written by: Joseph Stepansky
