After US Midterms: Israel Prepares for New Congress

In depth

The US midterm elections brought a dramatic win for the Democratic Party, which secured control of Congress. The result translates into a shift in the political balance of power, and the party is now preparing for a new term that begins in January.

In Israel, the steps expected in the face of the new Congress are being weighed. Democrats are preparing to advance legislative moves against Israeli actors, including personal sanctions on those involved in terror against Palestinians in Judea and Samaria and restrictions on products from the settlements.

At the same time, the Democratic Party's gains in the Senate and the House of Representatives mark a process in which the change in American public opinion toward Israel is beginning to show up in policy. The party's leaders still see the alliance with Israel as a value, but the old bipartisan support is no longer taken for granted.