Some of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political foes said the results of Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections reveal how toxic he is to American politicians — Democrats and Republicans alike.
The Democratic Party’s impending control of both the House and the Senate in Washington isn’t cause for panic, said Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition in Israel’s Knesset — but it is a signal that Israel needs strong leadership and a work plan.
“The easiest thing is to scream that ’America is lost,’ because if it’s lost, you don’t have to work. That’s just not true,” Mr. Lapid said Wednesday.
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“Hakeem Jeffries will lead the House of Representatives. Chuck Schumer will run the Senate. Both are my friends [and] both voted with Israel this year, even when the majority of their party caucus voted otherwise,” he said on social media.
While domestic pocketbook issues remained the primary driver of voter choice, the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran was a significant factor in the 2026 midterm elections.
Yair Golan, leader of Israel’s center-left party, The Democrats, said the continuing alliance between Mr. Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, could lead Israel down a path of international isolation and “a clash with the U.S., our friend and most important ally.”
“Israel needs a government that will restore its standing in the world, promote long-term political-strategic arrangements, and ensure its security. This is the choice before us,” Mr. Golan said on social media.
Gadi Eisenkot, the former Israel Defense Forces chief who is still trying to unseat Mr. Netanyahu as prime minister, said the bond between Israel and the U.S. is more than an alliance between governments.
“It is a partnership between peoples, built over generations, sustained by shared democratic values and strengthened by the conviction that our nations are more secure and more prosperous when we stand together,” Mr. Eisenkot said.
If he emerges as prime minister, Mr. Eisenkot said he wants to strengthen the link with Washington.
“Israel will remain one of America’s most reliable and capable strategic partners in the Middle East, a partnership that is mutually beneficial for both peoples, in every aspect,” he said.
Mr. Lapid said there is no question that the anti-Israel core in the U.S. House of Representatives has grown after Tuesday night’s election that saw a blue wave engulf Washington.
“There will be more extreme voices there, but even after the elections, we’re talking about 25 members of Congress out of 435,” he said. “In the Senate too, a few very hostile voices toward Israel were added, but even after last night, the hard and extreme core working against us doesn’t reach 10% of the Senate members.”
While Mr. Netanyahu aligned himself with the GOP and was endorsed by President Trump in his election, the next Israeli leader who comes to Washington should meet with leaders of both parties, Israeli leaders said.
“Not just to give a speech, but also to listen, to talk, to absorb criticism, to explain the facts [and] to rebuild trust,” Mr. Lapid said.
On Wednesday, Israel’s Central Elections Committee certified the official results of the Knesset election. The committee, headed by Israeli Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, said it found no evidence that its overall integrity had been compromised.
The election produced a fractured Knesset where neither political bloc commands the 61 seats required for an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
Mr. Netanyahu’s coalition of right-wing and religious parties secured 53 seats, falling eight seats short of a governing majority.
Mr. Eisenkot’s centrist and center-left factions hold a combined 48 seats.
The Arabs won a combined 19 seats, positioning them as potential kingmakers for any bloc seeking to reach 61 seats.
With the election results certified, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will meet with representatives of each party with a seat in the new Knesset.
Afterward, he will allow the blocs most likely to gather a 61-seat majority to try to form a government — either the parties of Mr. Netanyahu or Mr. Eisenkot.
A potential darkest of horses has emerged to be Israel’s premier: Donald Trump.
In a Fox News interview on Tuesday, he boasted of his popularity in Israel.
“If people ever get tired of me in the U.S., I’ll move to Israel and become prime minister,” he said.
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