Rahm Emanuel, a former U.S. official and potential Democratic presidential contender, is set to deliver a speech in Tel Aviv at Tel Aviv University in which he criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and argues that the U.S.-Israel relationship needs to change. Multiple outlets report that Emanuel will say Netanyahu’s leadership has led Israel toward a “dead end,” and that unconditional U.S. support has been a mistake. According to accounts based on remarks obtained by the Associated Press, Emanuel will contend that the current approach cannot continue “as it has” and will call for a new strategy.
The reports also say Emanuel is expected to use the address to respond to shifts in American politics and public opinion, including growing divisions within the Democratic Party over support for Israel. In addition to criticizing Netanyahu’s government, Emanuel calls for changes to U.S. military assistance and urges renewed efforts aimed at Palestinian statehood. Some coverage characterizes the speech as a broader political signal in the context of U.S. domestic debates over Israel, while other reporting focuses on the specific policy and diplomatic points Emanuel plans to make.
