Midterm elections deliver major setback to US-Israel relationship

The US-Israel relationship suffered a major political setback in the midterm elections, with voters delivering a rebuke that even President Trump acknowledged by suggesting cutting military aid to Israel. The election results signal a potential end to the long-standing bipartisan consensus on Israel. Pro-Palestinian candidates won key races nationwide, including Abdul El-Sayed becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate in Michigan despite over $40 million spent by Aipac against him. Trump's election-morning proposal to replace nearly $4 billion in annual military aid with arms sales was dismissed by both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel advocates. The incoming House will include several lawmakers with pro-Palestinian backgrounds, and Aipac announced it would stop direct endorsements after acknowledging its support hurt candidates. Exit polls showed 72% of Jewish voters backed Democrats, and analysts suggest the results reflect public fatigue with the Iran war and Israel's actions in Gaza.