Former Chicago mayor and possible 2028 Dem presidential contender Rahm Emanuel called for an end to America’s unconditional support of Israel during his trip to Tel Aviv Wednesday.
The Democrat, who is exploring a presidential campaign, delivered a blunt speech in which he described America’s actions of “blindly and silently” standing behind Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “mistake.”
Emanuel, 66, claimed the blanket support led to Netanyahu pursuing “dead-end” policies, as well as to the rise of extremism in the Jewish state.
He said those policies have left Israel more isolated than ever on the world stage.
“We’ve done you no favors by averting our eyes from your misjudgments,” Emanuel said.
“It should be obvious that strategic isolation is not a foundation for security. It’s a countdown clock.”
Emanuel, whose father was born in Jerusalem and is from a prominent Jewish family, is the latest Democratic politician to make public anti-Israel overtures in a sop to the party’s base.
Failed 2024 nominee Kamala Harris has made similar anti-Israel noises as she explores a 2028 run.
The former veteran of the Obama and Clinton administrations also warned that the “Greater Israel” position — which calls for the Jewish state to annex parts of Gaza and the West Bank — is just as extreme as the anti-Israel rallying cry of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
“Both are fantasies chanted by fanatics,” the former US congressman said. ” …Your government is complicit in the horrors now being inflicted on innocent families in the West Bank.
“That undermines your international legitimacy at a time when you can least afford it,” he added.
Emanuel’s position comes as support for Israel has been waning around the world over the war in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, with polls finding Democrats more sympathetic for Palestinians than Israelis.
He insisted that Israel is wealthy enough to buy weapons from the US like any other ally, rather than getting aid packages from Washington.
Netanyahu and Republicans have previously suggested that the US should end its billions of dollars in defense aid in favor of direct arms sales, calling the current policy a form of “welfare.”
Emanuel also vowed to revive Biden-era policies that used sanctions to fight illegal settlements and violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
The US, however, would not abandon Israel, with Emanuel calling for a “23-state solution” backed by America to change the Jewish state’s relationship with its neighbors.
Under the policy, Israel would gain recognition and diplomatic ties with all 22 members of the Arab League, with all parties working to establish a Palestinian state.
“The political benefits for all parties would be far greater than a two-state solution could ever offer. But to get there, everyone would need to make good on their piece of the bargain,” he said.
While Emanuel said little about Israel’s conflict with Iran, he chastised President Trump for pulling out of the Obama-era nuclear deal with Tehran, which he said led to the current instability in the Middle East.
