For many American citizens living in Israel, the recent U.S. election results have sparked a much-needed sense of optimism. We are witnessing a U.S. administration like few before it, in terms of alignment with Israel. Yet, with all the euphoria, it’s crucial that we remain clear‐headed and forward‐thinking. An axiom of the current geopolitical alignment is that our enduring security depends on a robust U.S.–Israel alliance, and history reminds us that political tides can shift swiftly.
Since former President George H.W. Bush assumed office in 1989, the presidency has alternated back and forth between the Republican and Democrat: Bush (R), was followed by Bill Clinton (D), then George W. Bush (R), Barack Obama (D), Donald Trump (R), Joe Biden (D) and now Trump again (R). This pattern underscores a fundamental truth of the American political system: No administration is permanent. While the current government is exceptionally supportive of Israel, the pendulum can swing, and the next administration may not hold the same stance.
Paying attention to tomorrow—today—is how we safeguard our long-term interests. The Democratic Party is at a crossroads. After suffering a devastating defeat in the recent elections, there is much soul-searching going on internally with the outcome set to determine if the party can stay relevant and attract voters back into the fold. Regarding Israel, there is a clear narrative choice that is going to be decided. Did the party lose voters because it abandoned its traditional, staunch support for the Jewish state, or did it not lean hard enough in the direction that the progressive left wanted?
I think for many of us the answer is clear. Yet it is imperative that we not let this debate conclude without our active involvement, busy as we are capitalizing on the current administration’s positions. Such a mistake will inevitably come back to haunt us. As the group with arguably the most skin in the game, it is partly up to us—Americans living in Israel, who still pay taxes and care deeply about the United States—to be active participants. We are one of the largest American expatriate groups in the world (behind the United Kingdom, Mexico and Canada) and, in the 2024 election, Americans in Israel cast votes from nearly all 50 states—Hawaii and Alaska, included.
Furthermore, many of us come from traditionally blue states (more than 50% are from New York, New Jersey and California) and traditionally blue districts, which remain painted blue even after the “red wave” of the last election. As such, we can petition our district representatives and help them understand that they have a significant constituency living outside the geographical borders of their districts with needs and interests they may not be aware of when supporting a policy one way or another.
Informing our representatives of this and engaging with them directly, may help sway the debate in a more pro-Israel direction. (You can find your congressional representative here using your last address in the United States.)
Sharing our personal stories and giving our representatives access to unfiltered information from us—the constituents they were elected to represent—can have a profound effect.
Granted, not everyone will be able to create constructive dialogue with their congressional representatives, such as those people unfortunate enough to come from a district represented by a “Squad” member, but there are other factors at play in every area through which we can play a part. These efforts are especially important now—while the party is still finding its footing following former Vice President Kamala Harris’s defeat and before a destructive narrative is further entrenched, costing us dearly in the long run.
{Reposted from JNS}
