Jewish Americans are preparing for Israel’s October 27 elections with a mix of anxiety and deep political division, as the vote serves as a de facto referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While non-citizens cannot vote in Israel, the outcome carries significant weight for U.S. Jewish communities, influencing everything from synagogue programming to the dynamics of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. The political landscape is complicated by rising antisemitism in the United States and divergent views on how Israel’s policies affect Jewish safety and identity at home.
What the Left Is Saying
Many liberal and younger Jewish Americans express concern that Netanyahu’s policies have damaged Israel’s global standing and fueled anger that threatens Jews in the U.S. Rabbi Josh Weinberg of the Union for Reform Judaism stated that while his community maintains a commitment to Zionism, they worry about the growing power of ultra-Orthodox factions and settlement policies in the West Bank. Weinberg noted, "If Netanyahu wins, I worry very much about the young generation of American Jews who may continue to be, I'll put it nicely, disenchanted, and who might just say 'OK, that's it. I'm giving up on Israel.'"
Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T'ruah, a rabbinic human rights organization, argued that while individual acts of violence are the responsibility of the perpetrators, government policy impacts the climate for Jews worldwide. "I think that it's going to be a very scary time for Jews around the world if there's another Netanyahu government and if it continues on its policy of expanding occupation, ethnic cleansing, and forever war," Jacobs said. Rabbi Dan Levin of Temple Beth El in Boca Raton, Florida, described the internal conflict felt by many congregants: "A lot of American Jews are really torn. They want to shout from the rooftops, 'Stop the pogroms in the West Bank,' but also yell at everybody, 'Stop with allegations of genocide and double standards against Israel.'"
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative and Orthodox Jewish Americans largely view Netanyahu as a necessary protector of Israel’s security, particularly in the face of threats from Hamas and other militant groups. Stanley Weinstein, an Orthodox Jew from Florida, rejected much of the criticism directed at the Israeli military. "I am appalled as an American. I am appalled as a Jew. And I say, thank God there is an Israel," Weinstein said, citing the simmering conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and with Iran. He emphasized that Israel’s security is crucial amid rising anti-Israel rhetoric from both the left and right in the U.S.
Weinstein and other supporters argue that the current administration is doing "a terrific job" in maintaining national security. However, they share concerns about the social fabric of the country. "The biggest issue in Israel today, which doesn't exist, is unity. To me, that is what is at stake," Weinstein said. "Is there a way to unify the country, unify the people?" This perspective holds that stability in Israel is essential for the well-being of the global Jewish community, regardless of political disagreements over specific policies.
What the Numbers Show
A recent AP-NORC poll highlights a significant generational divide in how Jewish Americans connect with Israel. Among religious Jewish adults aged 45 and older, support for Israel remains a key component of religious identity. However, only about 4 in 10 religious Jewish adults under 45 say that supporting Israel is "extremely" or "very" important for their Jewish identity, prioritizing other forms of connection such as celebrating Jewish holidays. The same poll found that a majority of Jewish adults consider prejudice against Jewish people to be an "extremely" or "very" serious problem in the United States today. The Israeli election, held against the backdrop of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, is projected to be a tight race between Netanyahu’s bloc and an alliance of rivals.
The Bottom Line
The Israeli elections are poised to influence the U.S. political landscape, particularly as the Nov. 3 midterm elections approach. Issues such as support for Palestinians and the potential withdrawal of U.S. aid to Israel are gaining traction among Democratic voters. Jason Isaacson, chief policy officer for the American Jewish Committee, noted that despite policy controversies, there remains "strong support for the continuation of the U.S.-Israel relationship and for the necessity of Israel's survival" among American Jews. Community leaders warn that the outcome could further deepen divisions within the Jewish community, both in the U.S. and Israel, with Rabbi Levin stating, "This may be the most consequential election in modern Israeli history, because the nature of the current administration is so fraught with division that it's ripping the people apart."