Why Americans fell out of love with Israel - explained

The United States and Israel have shared one of the most powerful alliances in modern history. Irrespective of who has been in the White House, the US has given billions of dollars in military aid and largely unwavering political support.

But this year, something has changed.

For the first time in 25 years of Gallup polling, more Americans now sympathise with Palestinians than Israelis. A majority of Democratic senators recently voted to block the sale of weapons and bulldozers to Israel. And the war in Iran has left millions of Americans questioning whether their country is being dragged into conflicts that aren't in their interest.

In this episode of FourSight, we explain how and why the US-Israel relationship is changing — tracing the history from Harry Truman's recognition of Israel in 1948, through the Cold War, the rise of AIPAC, the impact of October 7th and the war in Gaza, and the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Is this a temporary shift or a permanent realignment? What does it mean for US domestic politics, the Middle East, and the future of one of the world's most consequential relationships?

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Presenter: Kiran Moodley
Producer: Harriet Tatham
Editor: Matthew Lucas
Motion Graphics: Ian Watkins
Series Producer: Kieron Bryan

Thanks to:

Omer Bartov
Karin von Hippel
Dahlia Scheindlin
Shibley Telhami
Stephen Walt

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