Rahm Emanuel called for an end to unconditional U.S. aid to Israel on July 8 at Tel Aviv University, marking a sharp break from his longtime pro-Israel stance as he explores a 2028 Democratic presidential run.
The former Chicago mayor and Obama administration official delivered the blunt warning in a speech that reflected shifting Democratic sentiment on Israel. “Without question, the alliance is at a crossroads. It cannot stand or survive as it has been. To maintain the strength of our ties, this alliance needs significant changes and a new direction,” Emanuel said, according to Reuters.
Emanuel called for ending special U.S. military subsidies to Israel, which amount to $3.8 billion annually. “Israel should purchase American weapons under standard allied terms rather than special subsidy,” he argued, according to Reuters. He also said that Washington’s unconditional backing had enabled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in power almost consecutively since 2009, to ignore American concerns and pursue policies that have led to violence and Israel’s diplomatic isolation.
The speech came amid a dramatic collapse in American support for Israel among Democrats. According to Reuters/Ipsos polling cited in the Reuters article, Israel’s favorability among Democrats fell from 59% in 2018 to 22% in May 2026. Emanuel attributed this decline to Israeli policies ranging from settlement expansion and settler violence in the occupied West Bank to restrictions on aid to Gaza.
Emanuel’s call reflects a broader shift within the Democratic Party. An increasing number of Democrats in Congress are pressing to cut off military aid to Israel entirely, according to Reuters. The issue has become one of the most divisive ahead of November U.S. midterm elections, with progressive Democratic candidates winning primary contests while opposing U.S. funding for Israel.
Emanuel, who is Jewish and served as a volunteer supporting the Israeli military during the 1991 Gulf War, also proposed a new Middle East peace strategy. He called for trust-building measures to revive a peace process that collapsed in 2014, in which Arab states would take on a central role that would ultimately lead to formal ties between Israel and the Arab League.
Sources
- Reuters — Emanuel’s speech at Tel Aviv University, the $3.8 billion annual military aid figure, his call for standard allied terms for weapons purchases, the decline in Israeli favorability among Democrats, and his criticism of Netanyahu’s policies.
- The New York Times — Confirmation that Emanuel called for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel and that Israel was wealthy enough to buy weapons like any other ally.
- Al Jazeera — Confirmation that Emanuel told Israel to no longer expect unconditional U.S. aid, and his status as a Democrat expected to run for president in 2028.
- PBS NewsHour — Confirmation that Emanuel criticized Netanyahu’s government and called for a new approach to military aid and renewed efforts toward Palestinian statehood.
