Rahm Emanuel to denounce Netanyahu during Tel Aviv speech as American politics shift against Israel

By — Steven Sloan, Associated Press Steven Sloan, Associated Press By — Steve Peoples, Associated Press Steve Peoples, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/rahm-emanuel-to-denounce-netanyahu-during-tel-aviv-speech-as-american-politics-shift-against-israel Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Rahm Emanuel to denounce Netanyahu during Tel Aviv speech as American politics shift against Israel Politics Jul 7, 2026 1:51 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Rahm Emanuel, a potential Democratic presidential candidate and longtime defender of Israel, will denounce Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv this week and deliver a bracing message that the country's relationship with the United States is "at a crossroads." "It cannot stand or survive as it has been," Emanuel will say at Tel Aviv University on Wednesday, according to remarks obtained by The Associated Press. "To maintain the strength of our ties, we need significant changes and a new direction." In an interview ahead of his speech, Emanuel said Israel's continued military response to Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, 2023, has been "reckless and careless in the treatment of Palestinian life — not only the military campaign but using food and medicine as an instrument of your military goals." Asked whether Israel had committed genocide, an accusation leveled by some human rights organizations and rejected by the Israeli and U.S. governments, Emanuel said the question should not be considered in isolation without also examining conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan. "I'm ready to have that discussion," he said, "but I don't think it should be politicized, and then dilute the power of what genocide means." READ MORE: Trump acknowledges calling Netanyahu 'crazy,' says Israel is complicating peace talks with Iran Taken together, the interview and upcoming speech from a stalwart of Democrats' centrist wing are another demonstration of how far the party has shifted away from its historic support of Israel almost three years after the war in Gaza began. About 58% of Democrats say the U.S. is "too supportive" of the Israelis, according to a new survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, up from 45% in January 2024. Roughly half of Democrats believe that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians during the war with Hamas. Emanuel's proposals will include sanctions on Israelis who attack Palestinian civilians and property along with companies and banks that support settlements considered illegal by most of the international community. He also wants to end U.S. subsidies to Israel's defense budget, arguing the country "should be able to buy American arms under the same financial terms, the same restrictions, and the same requirements as every other trusted ally that abides by our laws." In addition, Emanuel will blame Netanyahu for driving Israel to a "dead end," emboldened by poor decisions