For decades, the U.S.-Israel relationship has stood as one of the most durable pillars of American foreign policy, grounded in shared values, strategic cooperation, and bipartisan consensus. Yet that bond is facing unprecedented strain as the Gaza war drags on, international recognition of Palestinian statehood grows, and public opinion shifts on both sides of the alliance. A new analysis suggests the real challenge lies not only in today’s headlines, but in tomorrow’s demographics. Younger Americans—both Democrats and Republicans—are increasingly skeptical of unconditional support for Israel, while younger Israelis are moving further to the right, embracing nationalism and religious identity. This generational divide risks reshaping the partnership into something unrecognizable from the past.

The political consequences are already surfacing. President Donald Trump, once among Israel’s most loyal backers, has voiced frustration over its public relations failures, even as polls show a dramatic decline in Israel’s favorability among younger Americans. On college campuses, anti-Israel protests have surged, and in Congress, lawmakers from both parties are beginning to question military aid and arms sales. Meanwhile, Israel itself is drifting toward a more self-reliant, hardline future. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that his nation may need to prepare for diminished U.S. support and build its economy and defense industries independently. Unless both nations adapt, the U.S.-Israel alliance could fracture under the weight of clashing generational values, shifting political priorities, and the widening gulf between how each country sees its role in the world.

SOURCE: Politico