U.S. Politics Put to the Test in Gaza

I’ve previously pointed out multiple times that unconditional support for Israel in the U.S. has caused divisions within both the Democratic and Republican parties. I highlighted that the “Israel split” in both camps is deepening. The fact that Israel’s genocide in Gaza has become undeniable and that public support for Israel in the U.S. is shifting dramatically shows that the bipartisan pro-Israel policy is no longer sustainable.

The influence of the “Israel Lobby” over American politics is also at risk. One of its most powerful organizations, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), is starting to draw more attention than it’s comfortable with. At the end of July, the U.S. Congress went on recess. Meanwhile, as the genocide in Gaza continues, a large number of American politicians attended a trip to Israel organized by AIPAC and other Zionist groups, sparking controversy. Their decision to visit Israel instead of meeting with constituents at home was a clear sign of the Lobby’s anxiety.

It was notable that almost all of the politicians on the trip—including House Republican Leader Mike Johnson—had received donations from AIPAC or affiliated campaign groups. Johnson and several others were widely criticized for posing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Their eagerness to visit Israel stems from their need for “AIPAC money” for the 2026 elections.

Within Trump’s camp, there’s intense internal conflict between “Israel First” and “America First” factions. A verbal clash between staunch pro-Israel activist Laura Loomer, who is close to Trump, and Trump-aligned Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene turned personal. Greene was targeted by AIPAC for calling Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide.” While Greene emphasized where AIPAC and Loomer’s loyalties lie, Loomer questioned Greene’s loyalty to Trump—and even brought Greene’s private life into the dispute. This feud reflects a larger internal struggle within Trump’s camp between the “MAGA (Make America Great Again)” and “MIGA (Make Israel Great Again)” factions, with Trump observing from a distance.

Greene was the first Republican lawmaker to accuse Israel of genocide. On the Democratic side, the highest-ranking official to do so was Katherine Clark, the second-ranking Democrat in the House after Hakeem Jeffries. Mainstream pro-Israel Democratic leaders are facing intense protests from younger Democrats. Like Jeffries, Clark had previously received donations from AIPAC.

Last Thursday, Clark publicly acknowledged at an event in her district that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. She stated, “I’ve received money from AIPAC in the past, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do what’s right here.” While several Democrats criticize Israel, only 13 have explicitly called its actions genocide—but that number is clearly rising.

Meanwhile, younger Democrats are working to limit the influence of “AIPAC money” on elections. One such effort is to secure pledges from Democratic candidates not to accept AIPAC funding in the 2026 primaries. Valerie Foushee is among the Democrats who have announced they won’t take AIPAC money. She also pledged to support legislation in the House that would stop the transfer of weapons to Israel—a significant shift for her. AIPAC had supported Foushee in the 2022 and 2024 North Carolina Democratic primaries, including a $2 million donation during the 2022 primary, which was the most expensive Democratic primary in the state’s history.

The developments I’ve outlined indicate a growing willingness in the U.S. to challenge the long-standing bipartisan, unquestioning support for Israel. Shifts in American public opinion against Israel are driving this change. In particular, within the Democratic camp, the genocide in Gaza appears poised to serve as a political litmus test for both the 2026 primaries and the 2028 presidential election. In previous periods, openly supporting Israel worked politically—but that is changing.