Israel's shifting image in US politics after October 7th
Support for Israel is becoming a political liability in Washington, and both parties are quietly rearranging how they handle pro-Israel money.
- Public opinion turned sharply after October 7th, and politicians are adjusting to it.
- Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan publicly distanced himself from AIPAC in his race against Abdul El-Sayed, even after speaking to a Republican Jewish group.
- Being openly tied to AIPAC is now seen in DC as a losing move.
- The money is shifting to groups with neutral-sounding names whose donors and actions are still pro-Israel.
- Trump ran on an America First, stay-out-of-foreign-wars message in 2016 that won over libertarian-leaning voters, then governed differently once in office.
Outlook: Expect more pro-Israel spending to move through low-profile groups, with scrutiny turning toward Jared Kushner's financial ties.