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International American Public Support For Israel 'Fraying' Across Political Spectrum
- Thread starter Siver!
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another drive by!
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Were you alive when George W. Bush was president?
D
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Yes. And the war criminal Obama too.
40000 dead man . Most of them innocent men women and children. This is genocide.
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- They're already comiting and hiding behind momma US.
US goverment doesn't care about his citzens opinions or lives, the International Gernocide Force killed some americans. Right now theres onlyt semantics separating US suport on this abomanation, and Imperial Japan suporting the Nazis.
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Last edited:
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Look up who let Qatar funnel money. Who controls the airspace,electricity and water in Gaza? It is not Qatar....
Funnily enough, Smotrich quite literally claims Hamas is an asset.
Are you just sealioning? I was pretty clear in why those countries are worse. They have systems of slavery in place....They don't have the excuse of an occupation or settlers burning their houses down either to be radical....
I have no idea what this spiel is about. It seems like you are just dehumanizing them. "They are no palestinians, they are just a bunch filthy terrorists living in Gaza"...Say what you want to say with your chest instead of doing this code speech mumbo jumbo.
Furthermore, you should look into the PLO, PFLP, etc. They were the more secular governing bodies that atleast came to the table for negotiations....Way before Hamas was even a thing. The PLO had accepted UN242 for ages as well....
I expected America to minimize civilian casualties as much as possible during our occupation/invasion of Iraq — more so than Saddam or ISIS, for obvious reasons.
In the same way, I expect a police officer to act more responsibly than a criminal when it comes to valuing innocent human life. Based on the way that you are speaking about Palestinians, its clear that you don't see them worthy of life so I don't see a point in engaging with this conversation going forward. Take care.
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Wow, hard time with anyone who is critical of Palestine? I was speaking verifiable facts about Palestine. I get that you want to minimize the bad acting by Palestine by making them not responsible for anything, but unfortunately, they share responsibility for the problems in that area. Empathizing with the people of Gaza does not require making them out to be blameless or hating the people of Israel.
I don't mind criticizing the Israeli government as well as Palestine; I have no agenda. I'm not going to get all sensitive about anyone that criticizes either side.
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Most Americans don’t look back on the War on Terror fondly.
Even then, George Bush had at least some semblance of a game plan, rather than opting for perpetual occupation or ethnic cleansing/genocide. Again, I’ll emphasize that the intervention was a colossal fuck-up, but at least we worked with the Iraqi people to try to cultivate something. They have a defected democracy and they can govern themselves. They are not at the mercy of an occupying power like Palestinians are for the past ~60 yrs.
Additionally, Israel doesn’t even engage with the Palestinian Authority to rectify the situation. They don’t even pretend to.
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Gaza will be entirely destroyed, Israeli minister says
Bezalel Smotrich says Palestinians will ‘leave in great numbers to third countries’, raising fears of ethnic cleansingJason Burke in Tel Aviv and Julian Borger
An Israeli government minister has vowed that “Gaza will be entirely destroyed” as a result of an Israeli military victory, and that its Palestinian population will “leave in great numbers to third countries”, raising fears of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territory.
The declaration on Tuesday by the finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, came a day after Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan for Operation Gideon’s Chariots, which an Israeli official said would entail “the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories”.
The Israeli threats to seize control of the territory permanently has stirred global outrage.
“We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s operations,” the UK’s Middle East minister, Hamish Falconer, said. “Any attempt to annex land in Gaza would be unacceptable.”
After the intensified offensive was announced, Hamas said it was no longer interested in truce talks with Israel and urged the international community to halt Israel’s “hunger war” against Gaza, a reference to the total blockade on aid deliveries to Gaza, which has been in place for more than two months.
“There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip,” Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, told AFP.
Effie Defrin, Israel’s chief military spokesperson, said the planned offensive would include “moving most of the population of the Gaza Strip … to protect them”.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said the “population will be moved, for its own protection” in a video posted on social media, but gave no further details.
Smotrich, speaking to a conference on Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, went further, making clear that many Palestinians would be driven out of the territory altogether, as part of a scorched earth offensive.
“Gaza will be entirely destroyed, civilians will be sent to … the south to a humanitarian zone without Hamas or terrorism, and from there they will start to leave in great numbers to third countries,” the minister said.
Israel’s neighbours Egypt and Jordan have said they will refuse to allow an exodus of refugees on their territory, arguing that would make them party to the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.
The international court of justice is assessing allegations of genocide against Israel for its military campaign in Gaza, and last year issued a series of provisional measures that included orders for Israel to “take all measures” to prevent genocide being committed or incited, and to allow the “unhindered provision” of humanitarian assistance across the territory’s southern border with Egypt.
The international criminal court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and the ICC prosecutor is reported to be preparing more warrant requests.
“Smotrich has been saying similar things for some time now, but obviously this is very serious in the context of the call for more troops by the government,” Victor Kattan, assistant professor in public international law at the University of Nottingham, said.
“Deportation and forcible transfer of civilians is a crime against humanity under the Rome statute [the ICC’s founding treaty], and that’s a clear call for that. If that’s occurring in the context of his ministerial position or as a result of deliberations in the cabinet, that could be very serious.”
Late on Tuesday, at least 22 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people, said Gaza’s civil defence agency. Dozens more were wounded in the attack on Bureij camp in the centre of the territory, civil defence media officer Ahmad Radwan told AFP.
The call for an intensification of Israel’s war in Gaza came as it carried out a second day of airstrikes aimed at Houthi forces in Yemen, severely damaging the country’s international airport in the capital, Sana’a.
The strikes came after Israel launched similar attacks on Monday in retaliation for a Houthi missile strike the previous day on Israel’s international airport.
Nearly all of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has been displaced, often repeatedly, since the start of the war triggered by Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted another 250.
More than 52,000 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive in Gaza that followed. A two-month ceasefire collapsed in mid-March when Israel reneged on a promise to implement a second phase.
Faltering indirect talks have continued since, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, but with little sign of any significant progress. Any breakthrough appears unlikely as long as Israel remains committed to forcing Hamas to disarm, and Hamas refuses to release hostages without a ceasefire leading to a permanent end to hostilities as well as a total withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Some analysts suggest Israel’s threats of the new offensive, occupation of territory and massive displacement are designed to force concessions from Hamas, as well as shore up rightwing support for Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.
Hamas on Monday described the new Israeli framework for aid delivery in Gaza as “political blackmail” and blamed Israel for the war-ravaged territory’s “humanitarian catastrophe”.
A UN spokesperson said on Monday that António Guterres, the UN secretary general, was “alarmed” by the Israeli plan that “will inevitably lead to countless more civilians killed and the further destruction of Gaza”.
Humanitarian officials say the territory is on the brink of catastrophe as food and fuel runs out due to a total Israeli blockade imposed on 2 March.
Military officials in Israel have given different versions of a plan reportedly agreed by ministers to allow a limited amount of aid into Gaza, which would be distributed from a small number of newly constructed hubs in the south of the territory staffed by private contractors but protected by Israeli troops.
Humanitarian officials have dismissed the scheme as unworkable, dangerous and potentially unlawful.
“The design of the plan presented to us will mean large parts of Gaza, including the less mobile and most vulnerable people, will continue to go without supplies,” a joint statement by UN and other aid agencies said this week.
“It contravenes fundamental humanitarian principles and appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic – as part of a military strategy.
“It is dangerous, driving civilians into militarised zones to collect rations, threatening lives, including those of humanitarian workers, while further entrenching forced displacement.”
Stephen Cutts, the interim head of Medical Aid for Palestinians, said: “Israel’s proposed military-controlled aid mechanism is a dangerous attempt to weaponise humanitarian aid, entrench further control over Gaza, and continue its ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.”
US officials have not reacted directly to Israel’s threat of a new offensive, but Donald Trump said on Monday that his administration would help get food to “starving” Palestinians. He blamed Hamas for making it “impossible” by diverting humanitarian assistance for its fighters.
“We’re going to help the people of Gaza get some food. People are starving, and we’re going to help them get some food,” Trump told reporters during an event at the White House.
Israeli officials have said the new operation will not be launched before Trump concludes his visit next week to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/06/hamas-israel-hunger-war-in-gaza
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- Maybe is just my licking for the guy. But Dubia doesnt looked like someone found of genicide.
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Never forget the USS Liberty and all the brave servicemen we lost that day.
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If i were to remain silent, I'd be guilty of complicity.
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I hear a lot of bitching and no real solutions. If enough Americans don’t want their government supporting Israel then democracy should do its thing and it will all work out. And are these Americans who are so against the existence of Israel going to move back to Europe and give their houses and land back to the American Indians? Because the USA is also a result of “stolen land” and “genocide” if that’s how you want to look at it.
what is it they say about people who live in glass houses?
meanwhile USA and Israel are both seen as very desirable places to live in their respective regions of the world.
what is it they say about people who live in glass houses?
meanwhile USA and Israel are both seen as very desirable places to live in their respective regions of the world.
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Texas Gov. Abbott threatens to pull San Marcos funding over Israel ceasefire resolution
San Marcos City Council voted April 15 to advance a ceasefire resolution, with a formal vote scheduled for its May 6 meeting.
www.statesman.com
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Democracy sure works great. But that link doesn’t. cliffs? by the way when are you planning to go back to Europe and give your land to the native Americans?Democracy works!Texas Gov. Abbott threatens to pull San Marcos funding over Israel ceasefire resolution
San Marcos City Council voted April 15 to advance a ceasefire resolution, with a formal vote scheduled for its May 6 meeting.
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The 2000 Camp David Summit, convened by U.S. President Bill Clinton, brought together Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat to negotiate a final peace agreement. Israel proposed a plan offering a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. Arafat rejected the offer.
In the aftermath, Hamas, opposing the peace process, intensified its campaign of violence to derail negotiations. The group carried out suicide bombings and other attacks targeting Israeli civilians, aiming to undermine the Palestinian Authority's engagement in peace talks and to assert its own agenda. Hamas's actions contributed to escalating tensions and played a role in the outbreak of the Second Intifada, further complicating efforts to achieve a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Gaza Strip hosts several militant organizations designated as terrorist groups by multiple international entities. These groups vary in ideology, tactics, and affiliations but share a common goal of erasing Israel through armed resistance.
1. Hamas- Overview: Established in 1987 as an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas is the de facto governing authority in Gaza since 2007. It comprises a political wing and a military wing known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
- Terrorist Activities: Hamas is responsible for numerous suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and other forms of violence targeting Israeli civilians and military personnel. Notably, on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, resulting in significant casualties and hostages. The group's Nukhba forces, an elite unit, played a central role in this operation.
- Designation: Classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the United States, European Union, Canada, and other countries.
2. Palestinian Islamic Jihad- Overview: Formed in the late 1970s, PIJ is a Sunni Islamist organization that operates primarily in Gaza and the West Bank. It maintains close ties with Iran and Syria.
- Terrorist Activities: PIJ has carried out numerous suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and shootings targeting Israeli civilians and military personnel. The group is known for its refusal to participate in political processes, focusing solely on armed resistance.
- Designation: Recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, Canada, Australia, and others.
3. Salafi-Jihadist Groups- These groups adhere to a radical interpretation of Islam, advocating for global jihad and the establishment of an Islamic caliphate. They often criticize Hamas for its political participation and perceived moderation. Notable groups include:
- Jaysh al-Ummah: A small Salafi-jihadist group in Gaza that supports al-Qaeda's ideology. It has conducted rocket attacks against Israel and has been critical of Hamas's governance.
- Jaish al-Islam: Known for its involvement in the 2007 kidnapping of BBC journalist Alan Johnston and collaboration with Hamas in the 2006 abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
- Fatah al-Islam: Originally based in Lebanon, this group has had a presence in Gaza and is known for its extremist ideology and violent activities.
4. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine- Overview: A Marxist-Leninist organization founded in 1967, the PFLP is the second-largest faction within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
- Terrorist Activities: The PFLP gained notoriety for pioneering aircraft hijackings in the 1960s and 1970s. It has also been involved in various attacks against Israeli targets, including shootings and bombings.
- Designation: Listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, Canada, and others.
5. Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine- Overview: Established in 1969 as a splinter group from the PFLP, the DFLP espouses Marxist-Leninist ideology and is a member of the PLO.
- Terrorist Activities: The DFLP has conducted attacks against Israeli military and civilian targets, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. While less active in recent years, it maintains a militant presence in Gaza.
- Designation: Classified as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States and Canada.
6. Muslim Brotherhood- Overview: Founded in Egypt in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood is a Sunni Islamist organization advocating for governance based on Islamic principles. In the Palestinian context, it laid the ideological groundwork for Hamas, which emerged as its offshoot in 1987. While the Brotherhood itself operates primarily as a political and religious movement, its Palestinian branch, Hamas, has engaged in militant activities.
- Terrorist Activities: The Muslim Brotherhood's direct involvement in terrorism is a subject of debate. While the organization has been linked to various militant activities historically, including the operations of its "secret apparatus" in the mid-20th century, its contemporary branches vary in their approaches. Notably, Hamas, as the Brotherhood's Palestinian offshoot, has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the United States and other countries due to its involvement in suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and other violent actions against Israeli targets.
- Designation: The Muslim Brotherhood is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. However, it is not designated as such by the United States or the European Union. Hamas, its Palestinian offshoot, is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, Canada, and others.
Despite a common opposition to Israel, Palestinian factions such as Hamas, Fatah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have experienced significant internal conflicts. The most notable is the Fatah–Hamas conflict, which escalated after Hamas's victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections. Tensions culminated in the 2007 Battle of Gaza, where Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip, leading to a political and territorial split between the two factions. Since then, sporadic clashes, arrests, and political disputes have persisted, undermining efforts for Palestinian unity. While these groups occasionally collaborate against Israel, deep-seated ideological and political differences suggest that, absent a unifying external adversary, internal hostilities would intensify, leading to bloodshed.
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The beginning of the end of unshakeable support: Why US public opinion is turning away from Israel
by Greg Pence
The US-Israel relationship is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Once the recipient of broad, near-unquestioned bipartisan support across American political lines, Israel now faces a rising wave of skepticism and criticism in US public opinion. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in early 2025, 53 per cent of Americans now hold a negative view of Israel—a significant increase from 42 per cent in 2022. This 11-point jump, coupled with declining emotional investment in Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas, signals a paradigm shift in how Americans perceive their long-standing ally. Support for Israel is eroding, and this trend reflects a complex mix of generational divides, political polarisation, and widespread dissatisfaction with Israeli military actions in Gaza. This shift not only challenges the bilateral relationship but also raises profound questions about the future of US foreign policy in the Middle East.
A generational divide: A new perspective emerging
One of the most striking drivers of declining support for Israel is the sharp generational divide in attitudes. Pew data shows that only 41 per cent of Americans under 30 have a favorable view of Israel, compared to 69 per cent among those over 65. This gap is not merely statistical—it reflects fundamental differences in values, sources of information, and historical experience. Younger generations, particularly Gen Z, engage with global events primarily through digital platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. These platforms often feature harrowing images of Palestinian suffering in Gaza—destroyed homes, displaced families, civilian casualties—that deeply affect young viewers and strengthen their empathy toward Palestinians.Unlike older generations who may see Israel through the lens of the Cold War or shared threats to the West, today’s youth place greater emphasis on human rights, social justice, and equality. As a result, the unconditional support for Israel once assumed by their parents and grandparents is now a topic of scrutiny and debate. Furthermore, rising education and awareness about the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have contributed to this shift. Many young Americans are now familiar with terms like occupation, settlements, and the human rights implications of Israeli policies. This awareness—often amplified by academic activists and movements like BDS—has helped reshape perceptions among younger generations.
Political polarisation: From bipartisan consensus to partisan divide
The erosion of support for Israel is also closely tied to increasing political polarisation in the US. While backing for Israel was once a bipartisan norm, Pew’s findings reveal a stark partisan divide: 74 per cent of Republicans maintain a positive view of Israel, compared to just 44 per cent of Democrats. This gap reflects Israel’s evolution from a national ally into a partisan issue—an uncommon phenomenon in past decades.
This shift is partly a consequence of recent Israeli government policies, particularly under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which have increasingly aligned with America’s conservative wing. Netanyahu’s controversial 2015 address to Congress, criticising the Iran nuclear deal without coordination with the Obama administration and at the invitation of Republicans, alienated many Democrats. Additionally, his open support for Donald Trump’s reelection bid further cemented the perception among Democrats that Israel had become a partisan ally rather than a national partner.
At the same time, the progressive wing of the Democratic Party—led by figures like Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Rashida Tlaib—has issued pointed critiques of Israeli policies. These criticisms often focus on human rights violations, illegal settlements, and the blockade of Gaza, and they resonate deeply with the party’s younger and more liberal base. This progressive momentum has not only challenged traditional support for Israel but has also sparked calls to reconsider the US’s $3.8 billion in annual military aid to Israel—a proposal that would have been unthinkable just a decade ago.
Dissatisfaction with Israel’s military actions in Gaza
Perhaps the most immediate factor in the decline of US support for Israel is the public reaction to its military operations in Gaza. Pew data reveals that only 34 per cent of Americans consider Israel’s actions in Gaza justifiable, while 47 per cent describe them as excessively harsh. This dissatisfaction is particularly pronounced among Democrats (60 per cent) and Americans under 50 (55 per cent).
The ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which escalated in October 2023, has been marked by staggering civilian casualties, widespread destruction of infrastructure, and a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Reports from the United Nations and human rights organisations indicate tens of thousands of civilian deaths, including thousands of children, and the displacement of more than one million people. These numbers, along with haunting images of destroyed hospitals and grieving families, have dominated global media and social platforms, stirring strong emotional responses among the American public.
Among Americans concerned with human rights, these reports have sparked anger and disillusionment. Many believe that as the primary recipient of US military aid, Israel should be held to higher standards in upholding international law and protecting civilians. This dissatisfaction has intensified scrutiny of America’s role in the conflict. The billions in annual US military assistance—much of which funds weapons used in Gaza—has become a point of contention. Polls show that a majority of Democrats and a significant portion of independents now support conditioning this aid on Israel’s compliance with human rights norms.
The consequences of a historic shift
The decline in support for Israel carries significant implications for US foreign policy and the US-Israel relationship. In the short term, this shift may lead to calls for reducing or tightening conditions on military aid. Already, proposals to review and restrict US military assistance have surfaced in Congress, particularly among progressive Democratic lawmakers. In the long term, if current trends persist, Israel may lose its privileged status as an unquestioned strategic ally in the Middle East.This transformation also reflects changing priorities within American society. While Israel was once framed as a democratic bulwark in the region, many Americans now prioritise domestic issues such as healthcare, climate change, and economic inequality. This shift in focus, coupled with rising awareness of human rights concerns, makes it more difficult for Israel to retain its traditional base of support.
Moreover, declining support for Israel may catalyse a broader conversation about an ethics-based US foreign policy. While some view this change as a drift toward isolationism, others see it as an opportunity to redefine America’s global role—one centered more firmly on human rights and global justice.
As the 2025 Pew survey illustrates, America’s declining support for Israel is a historic turning point driven by generational rifts, political polarisation, and outrage over Israel’s military actions in Gaza. For the first time in decades, a majority of Americans hold an unfavourable view of Israel, signaling the end of an era of unconditional backing. This shift not only mirrors evolving American values and priorities, but also poses critical challenges for leaders in both countries. For Israel to rebuild its standing in US public opinion, it must address growing concerns over human rights and justice. Meanwhile, American policymakers face the delicate task of balancing a historic alliance with increasing demands for a values-based foreign policy. Without such recalibration, a partnership once deemed unbreakable may prove increasingly fragile under the weight of a new political reality.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/2...s-public-opinion-is-turning-away-from-israel/
