Rahm Emanuel, a former Chicago mayor and a long-time supporter of Israel, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline policies during a visit to Israel. Emanuel, who served as White House Chief of Staff under President Obama, stated, "The U.S. must end its unconditional support for Israel."
According to C-SPAN, during a speech at Tel Aviv University on July 8, Emanuel condemned the Israeli government's aggressive stance. He remarked, "Over the past five years, Israel has transformed from a startup nation promoting innovation to a modern-day Sparta," adding that a country known for its technological prowess has now become a "territorial pariah." He continued, "The U.S. has blindly supported the Israeli government, and that is our fault."
Emanuel further noted that the unconditional support from the U.S. has led Israeli leaders to disregard American concerns, believing they can engage in regional conflicts without facing political repercussions. He pointed out that in 2022, 55% of Americans viewed Israel favorably, but that number has since dropped to 37%, with even lower approval ratings among young people in the U.S. and Europe. He argued that taxpayer funding for Israel's defense budget should come to an end.
He asserted, "Regime change does not fall from the sky; it is achieved in the streets by the people." He mentioned that despite the deaths of Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Israel is more strategically isolated than ever, which cannot serve as a foundation for security.
In his speech, Emanuel emphasized a "23-nation solution" based on full diplomatic relations with all 21 member states of the Arab League. This approach suggests that Israel should recognize Palestinian sovereignty and abandon plans to annex the West Bank in exchange for establishing diplomatic ties with Arab League countries, thereby integrating into the Middle East. He claimed this plan would be a "worst nightmare" for Israel's adversary, Iran. The New York Times noted that this proposal aligns closely with the Arab peace initiative put forth by Saudi Arabia.
Emanuel's remarks are significant given his history as a staunch supporter of Israel. The New York Times highlighted that he has built considerable credibility over the years as a supporter of Israel. Emanuel's father, a Jerusalem native, fought in the Israeli War of Independence, and Emanuel himself served as an advisor to President Bill Clinton during the Oslo Accords in 1993, which were signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat. He also played an informal role during the Camp David peace talks in 2000. Additionally, he has been reported to have referred to Ben Rhodes, a former deputy national security advisor under Obama, as "Hamas" for his pro-Palestinian statements.
On July 7, ahead of his speech, Emanuel posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), explaining why a lifelong supporter of Israel would criticize the country. He wrote, "I am not here to flatter anyone. True friends must speak difficult truths to one another."
Emanuel is being mentioned as a potential Democratic candidate for the next presidential election. Earlier, he visited Concord, New Hampshire, a key early primary state, to meet with voters and discuss his views on middle-class inflation and the tax system, according to the Associated Press.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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