How the US midterm shock is reshaping Israel's leadership race

The Republican Party's defeat in the US midterm elections has weakened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim to be Israel's essential guarantor of American support, as his policies are now seen as politically toxic in Washington. This shift is directly influencing Israel's ongoing race to form a new government. Opposition leaders, including Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman, are blaming Netanyahu for the damaged US relationship, citing the Gaza war, the Iran conflict, and Trump's election-day announcement ending US military aid. They argue this toxicity disqualifies him from leading, with Lieberman suggesting the aid cutoff was the price of Trump's endorsement. Israel's October 27 election left Netanyahu's bloc short of a majority, and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot is now favored to form a government with Arab-party support. However, analysts say any Israeli leader will face enduring negative US public opinion, as polls show attitudes toward Israel are unlikely to improve regardless of who is prime minister.