Democratic hopeful Rahm Emanuel calls for end to unconditional US aid to Israel
Washington’s long-standing policy of blindly supporting the Israeli government without any conditions or demands has been a mistake, said Rahm Emanuel, a potential Democratic presidential candidate for the 2028 US elections.
The Israeli government has increasingly isolated the country, turning it into a “territorial pariah,” Emanuel said during a speech at Tel Aviv University on Wednesday.
“You cannot fight indefinitely against a world that has stopped believing you have the right to fight,” he added.
“You must instead find a new sustainable path to peace, security, and economic prosperity. America stands ready.”
He also mocked Israel’s recent foreign policy, saying that its only new diplomatic gain is recognition from Somaliland, a nation that itself lacks widespread international recognition.
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“As my grandmother used to say, ‘You lost Europe, you lost America, and you picked up Somaliland; such a deal,’” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.
During his visit, Emanuel met with President Isaac Herzog, but not with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who once called him a “self-hating Jew” back in 2009 because he condemned Israel’s expansion of illegal settlements.
'As my grandmother used to say, "You lost Europe, you lost America, and you picked up Somaliland; such a deal"
- Rahm Emanuel
In a social media post following their meeting, Herzog stated that it is critical for Israel to maintain good relations with both Democrats and Republicans.
Emanuel stated earlier in the week that he was intentionally avoiding meetings with political leaders ahead of the Israeli elections in the autumn, according to the Associated Press.
“I’m not going to give the prime minister an opportunity to twist this politically,” he told reporters prior to his Wednesday speech.
Emanuel, a Jew whose father was born in Jerusalem, suggested a “23-state solution” rather than the two-state solution, explaining that this approach would involve 21 Arab states taking active responsibility to establish a Palestinian state, while simultaneously admitting Israel’s claims on the land.
Democrats shift on Israel
Throughout his speech, which was hosted by the Center for the United States at Tel Aviv University, Emanuel hinted at a shifting attitude of Democrats regarding US-Israel relations, a shift that has been heavily debated since the start of Israel’s latest war on Gaza in 2023.
He warned that Washington–Tel Aviv relations are currently “at a crossroads” and require “significant changes and a new direction”.
“The status quo is unacceptable, where you can’t say anything negative, which acts as an implicit endorsement,” he said.
Heavily criticising the Netanyahu government, Emanuel added: “Unconditional support has produced a prime minister who has presumed that his strategic interest would incur no political costs if he ignored America’s concerns about settlements and sparked a regional war.”
He also suggested cutting American subsidies to Israel’s defence budget, and levelling sanctions against both Israelis who attack Palestinian civilians and Israeli politicians who endorse settler violence.
“Mamdani is more popular with American Jews than your prime minister.”
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In an interview with Israeli Channel 12, Rahm Emanuel, a former White House official said that Israel has become a “pariah” on the global stage and has a problem in the US pic.twitter.com/sr7BCBqZzK
Emanuel has long been an influential actor in US policy regarding the Israel-Palestine issue.
He served as an adviser to President Bill Clinton during the Oslo negotiations of the 1990s, and was involved in Middle East policy as chief of staff to Barack Obama from 2009 to 2010.
While no prominent Democrat has officially declared a candidacy for the 2028 presidential election, he has been open about his intentions to run.
As a former diplomat, mayor, and congressman, his fierce criticism of the Netanyahu government and his call for an immediate revision of US-Israel relations reflect a broader shift among Democratic voters.
A recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed a dramatic drop in support for Israel among the American public, showing rising opposition from Democrats as well as signs of division among Republicans.
The poll indicates that 58 percent of Democrats feel the US is “too supportive of Israel,” up from 45 percent in January 2024.
Furthermore, about one-third of US adults, including roughly half of Democrats, believe that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Unconditional support for Israel and stances on the Gaza war have become central questions for Democratic politicians, particularly during recent primary elections where progressive candidates openly critical of current US policies on Israel have secured victories.
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