Is Washington rethinking its relationship with Israel?

The announcement came as a surprise primarily because of its timing and the prospect that decades of assistance would come to such an abrupt end. While it may have been a last-ditch attempt to avert a landslide Congressional victory for the Democrats, the decision to gradually phase out the aid had reportedly been agreed some time earlier.

Strategic Consequences

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu eventually leaves office, he will leave behind a long record of damage inflicted on his country and its people, as well as on others. Strategically, one of his most damaging legacies will be the rapid deterioration of Israel's relations with its closest and most consequential ally, the United States.

This is not simply a falling-out with America's political elite; relations with the American public have also suffered. Worse still, replacing Netanyahu may not be enough to halt the erosion of relations between the two countries, with potentially serious consequences for Israel's security, economy and international standing.

Changing American Attitudes

The direction of travel in US-Israeli relations is clear: the almost automatic and unwavering support extended by successive US administrations, particularly since 1967, is cooling. There are both long-term trends and more immediate reasons behind this changing attitude in Washington and among the wider American public.