Democrats Straddle the Fault Line: Pro-Israel Voices Split from Netanyahu as Party Tilts Left on Gaza

By: Fern Sidman

When President Donald Trump left office in 2021, few could have predicted that less than a decade later, Israel itself—not simply its leaders or policies—would become a divisive litmus test in America’s political landscape. Yet according to a detailed analysis by CNN, many Democratic Party leaders are now grappling with precisely that dilemma.

In private conversations with CNN, senior Democrats confessed fears that Zionism itself—the belief in the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their historic homeland—could be on the brink of collapse within their own party. They openly acknowledge that for younger, progressive Democrats, opposition to Israel is no longer about disagreements with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or with settlement policy. It is increasingly a rejection of Israel’s legitimacy as a Jewish state.

For Democrats who still support Israel, this new political reality represents both a strategic problem and a moral crisis. And as CNN’s reporting shows, some party officials admit the effort to reverse course may already be “too late.”

The most visible sign of this seismic shift came last week, when a Senate resolution seeking to block new arms sales to Israel gained unprecedented support from Democratic lawmakers. Though the measure failed, CNN noted that the record number of Democrats supporting the move demonstrated a dramatic break from decades of bipartisan consensus that saw Israel as a close and indispensable ally.

A subsequent letter circulating in the House of Representatives calling for recognition of a Palestinian state has only deepened concerns. Longtime pro-Israel Democrats who once could count on party loyalty are now confronting colleagues willing to back measures that undercut Israel during an existential war against Hamas.

CNN reported that donors and activists aligned with Israel have been frantically calling, texting, and lobbying Democratic members of Congress. But many legislators—particularly those on the party’s progressive flank—are brushing off those appeals, believing that images of Gaza’s humanitarian suffering will outweigh decades of Jewish communal loyalty or financial contributions.

Much of the criticism within the Democratic Party has been personally directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. CNN highlighted quotes from figures such as Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, who argue that Netanyahu’s policies have alienated traditional allies and endangered Israel’s global standing.

Schatz, himself Jewish, told CNN that there has been a deliberate conflation between criticism of Israel’s government and criticism of Israel’s right to exist, calling it an “intentional strategy.” Yet even as Schatz denounced Netanyahu, he admitted that the divide now runs far deeper than one man’s leadership.

Netanyahu’s decades-long alignment with Republicans, his rejection of Palestinian statehood, and his unapologetic insistence that there is “no starvation” in Gaza have made him a polarizing figure. But as CNN acknowledged, critics have tried in vain for four decades to “wait out” Israel’s longest-serving leader.

In Israel itself, Netanyahu remains embattled but unbowed, and as Israel National News (INN) frequently reminds its readers, his government commands loyalty from millions of Israelis who see his defiance as necessary in an era of relentless terrorism.

The current Democratic struggle is not confined to Capitol Hill. CNN noted that the party’s internal fissures are becoming increasingly visible in state-level politics and among prospective presidential contenders for 2028.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 2024, admitted to CNN that the Israel-Hamas conflict “will still be an issue” four years from now. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, another Democrat positioning himself for a potential White House run, argued that criticizing Netanyahu does not equate to rejecting Israel, a framing he said Democrats must embrace if they are to remain credible with their base.

But for pro-Israel advocates, this nuanced position may be too subtle to withstand the blunt rhetoric of the party’s activist left, where calls for boycotts and accusations of “genocide” have become mainstream. CNN’s polling data underscores the danger: only 23% of Americans said Israel’s actions were “fully justified,” a dramatic 27-point drop from shortly after Hamas’s October 7 attacks. Among Democrats under 35, a staggering 72% believe the U.S. provides “too much” military aid to Israel.

These numbers, CNN analysts observed, represent not just a passing mood but a generational realignment.

Despite the growing tide, there remain influential Democrats who continue to stand firmly with Israel. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has emerged as one of the few to voice unapologetic support for Netanyahu. Speaking to CNN, Fetterman declared, “That’s the democratically elected leader. If you have to make a choice, Hamas or the democratically elected leader, I’m always going to stand with Israel through this.”

Fetterman, CNN noted, has refused to blame Israel for humanitarian suffering in Gaza, instead pointing directly at Hamas and Iran. His stance resonates with Jewish voters and donors alarmed by the erosion of bipartisan solidarity.

Similarly, long-serving lawmakers such as Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland continue to organize pro-Israel trips for Democratic freshmen. According to CNN, this year’s group is still expected to meet Netanyahu, despite the controversy surrounding his leadership.

These gestures demonstrate that, while diminished, the pro-Israel coalition within the Democratic Party is not yet extinguished.

CNN’s reporting revealed the dual pressures Democratic leaders now face: progressive activists demanding accountability for Gaza’s suffering, and Jewish voters and donors demanding unwavering support for Israel’s survival.

Some, like Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, have attempted to walk a fine line. Reed voted for a limited measure halting rifle sales, telling CNN that it was designed to “get Netanyahu’s attention” while still ensuring Israel retained its strategic defense capabilities. Reed’s balancing act reflects the bind of many Democrats: how to signal humanitarian concern without feeding narratives that delegitimize Israel itself.

Others, such as Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, have sought to distinguish between opposing Netanyahu and opposing Israel, though Sanders has also warned younger colleagues like Zohran Mamdani to avoid rhetoric that could be construed as antisemitic. CNN noted that Sanders, who lived briefly in Israel decades ago, insists that his critiques are aimed at policy, not existence. Yet critics counter that such distinctions are often lost in public debate, where “anti-Netanyahu” quickly slides into “anti-Israel.”

From a pro-Israel perspective, the most troubling development CNN documented is the normalization of anti-Zionist rhetoric in mainstream Democratic politics. The election of Mamdani as New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee despite his refusal to affirm Israel’s right to exist exemplifies this trend.

For decades, support for Israel was seen as a bipartisan constant, rooted in shared democratic values and the lessons of the Holocaust. Now, as CNN reported, many Democrats openly question whether unconditional support for Israel is compatible with progressive ideals.

Yet this analysis, Israeli officials argue, ignores the fundamental reality of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists slaughtered 1,200 Israelis, raped women, kidnapped children, and reignited a war that continues nearly two years later. As INN frequently emphasizes, Israel’s campaign in Gaza is not optional but existential: it is about ensuring that Hamas can never again perpetrate such atrocities.

Looking ahead, CNN highlighted how the Israel debate could shape the 2028 presidential primaries. Figures such as Cory Booker, Tim Walz, Chris Murphy, Andy Beshear, and even Rahm Emanuel are weighing presidential bids, each calibrating their positions on Israel to balance between donors, voters, and ideological currents.

Booker, a longtime friend of Israel, told CNN he believes in maintaining dialogue with Netanyahu even while criticizing him. Emanuel, reflecting on his clashes with Netanyahu during the Obama years, warned Democrats not to let Israel become a purely partisan issue.

But the momentum, CNN acknowledged, is moving against them. Younger voters, progressive activists, and influential voices on social media increasingly see Israel not as a democratic ally but as an oppressor. For Jewish Americans, who have historically aligned with the Democratic Party, this shift poses profound questions about political loyalty and communal security.

As CNN’s reporting makes clear, the Democratic Party is at an inflection point. What was once a cornerstone of its foreign policy consensus—support for Israel—is now under siege from within. Leaders fear that unless they act decisively, Zionism itself could lose its place in the party’s platform.

Yet the pro-Israel perspective, reflected in outlets such as Israel National News, underscores a stark truth: Israel is not a partisan football but a nation fighting for survival against enemies that openly call for its destruction. Hamas’s October 7 massacre was not an aberration but the latest chapter in a century-long campaign against Jewish self-determination.

For American politicians, the question is not whether they support Benjamin Netanyahu but whether they support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. As CNN has shown, too many Democrats are blurring that distinction, with consequences that could reverberate for decades.

The stakes could not be higher. For Israel, survival is non-negotiable. For Democrats, the choice is whether they will stand on the side of an embattled democracy or allow anti-Zionism to redefine their party’s values.