US right shifts on Israel reshape political debate

A critical look at how shifts in U S politics have linked support for Israel with a rise in populist ideas and renewed antisemitism.

Why the American right turned on Israel

The article traces a change in U S politics over the past six months, noting that some Democrats who have criticized Israel over Gaza now face a more vocal right that defends or reframes the alliance. It points to John Mearsheimer’s appearance on Tucker Carlson’s podcast as an example of ideas about the so called Israel lobby moving from fringe debate to mainstream discussion. The piece also surveys a historical arc from neoconservatives to the current hard right, arguing that old tensions have reappeared in new form. It highlights how Trump has handled Israel, offering support for Netanyahu while signaling room to appear moderate to critics, and it points to the way evangelical currents connect end times beliefs to political choices.

The piece argues this is not a sudden anomaly but a long standing pattern in which populist politics uses foreign policy to energize a base. It suggests that the right now treats Israel as a loyalty test and that anti Jewish sentiment on the far right can gain legitimacy when framed as strong national defense. It also warns that framing pro Palestinian views as anti Semitic helps the right consolidate power while painting opponents as morally compromised. A historical thread through figures such as Coughlin and McCarthy is invoked to show how prejudice can echo across generations. The analysis concludes that the trend poses a real risk to democratic norms and to Jewish communities, and it calls for vigilance in political rhetoric and media coverage.

Highlights

The next chapter will test how far political loyalty can go before it erodes shared democratic values.