Overview
- Emanuel, speaking Wednesday at Tel Aviv University, will publicly denounce Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and say the bilateral relationship cannot continue unchanged.
- He will propose targeted sanctions on Israelis who attack Palestinian civilians, penalties for companies and banks that back West Bank settlements, and an end to special U.S. subsidies for Israel’s defense budget.
- The speech reflects a sharp shift inside the Democratic Party, where AP-NORC polling shows rising skepticism about U.S. support for Israel and growing concern among younger voters.
- Israeli leaders could mount a fierce response that Netanyahu might use to rally voters ahead of the October election, turning the confrontation into a domestic political issue in Israel.
- Commentators warn the move could hasten Israel’s diplomatic isolation in science, culture and international forums and mark a rare moment in which a likely U.S. presidential contender openly rebukes an allied leader abroad.