From Bipartisanship to Dysergia: Trends in Congressional Actions Toward Israel

Abstract

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Partisan Cues and Opinion Formation on Foreign Policy

“…Still, both partisan groups demonstrate more support for Israel, but the balance indicates a clearer pro-Israeli preference among Republicans and a more balanced position among Democrats. These results concur with our expectation of an increasing partisan divide in elite actions and rhetoric concerning Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (see also Cavari & Nyer, 2014;Oldmixon et al, 2005).…”

“…In sum, during the post-2001 period, coverage of Israel in the U.S. media referenced the Republican Party more than the Democratic Party, and statements of Republican elites have presented more pro-Israeli views whereas statements of Democratic elites have presented fewer pro-Israel views and a slight increase in pro-Palestinian views. These findings are consistent with evidence of partisan differences in focus and attention on this issue in Congress (Cavari & Nyer, 2014;Oldmixon et al, 2005). Figure 2 plots the dynamics of American sympathies toward Israel, partitioned by party.…”

“…As previously discussed, partisan differences toward foreign policy, both in elite and mass opinion, have taken a new path following 9/11, the war on terror, and especially the war in Iraq (Beinart, 2008;Holsti, 2011;Jeong & Quirk, 2017). This turning point has also been applied to the elite and mass divide about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Cavari, 2013;Cavari & Nyer, 2014;Oldmixon et al, 2005;Rynhold, 2015).…”

“…Early studies on the support for Israel among American members of Congress demonstrate a strong bipartisan consensus toward Israel (Feuerwerger, 1979;Garnham, 1977;Trice, 1977). Studies examining more recent congressional action reveal that starting from the turn of the 21st century, the support is taking a more partisan tone with Republican elites showing stronger, uncritical support for Israel and Democratic leaders demonstrating a more ambivalent tone (Cavari & Nyer, 2014;Oldmixon, Rosenson, & Wald, 2005). More recent studies show similar trends among party ideological elites (Rynhold, 2015) and among candidates in presidential elections (Cavari & Freedman, 2017).…”

The Rocky Future of the US-Israeli Special Relationship

“…26 Both parties are still supportive of Israel, but they no longer agree on how this translates in policy terms. 27 The two parties now disagree over how tightly the United States should embrace the Israeli government.…”