The Man Who Explains Israel to John Fetterman

Democratic Party support for Israel has reversed over three years, with more Democratic senators backing efforts to block arms sales and polls showing many Democratic voters sympathize more with Palestinians. Prominent Democrats have begun calling for an end to unrestricted U.S. military aid. Senator John Fetterman has taken a more extreme pro-Israel stance than most in his party, mocking critics online and rejecting claims that Israel’s Gaza actions amount to genocide. He has displayed an Israeli flag during pro-Palestine protests and praised Israel’s pagers attack in Lebanon. He also voted against a War Powers Resolution aimed at limiting a U.S.-Israel war against Iran, framing his position in strongly religious and patriotic terms.

"Over the last three years, Democratic Party support for Israel has undergone a dramatic reversal. In 2024, 18 Democratic senators backed a measure to block arms sales to the country. In April of this year, it was 40. Polls show about two-thirds of Democratic voters sympathize with Palestinians more than Israelis. And even former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel - who grew up spending his summers in the country and whose middle name is Israel - has recently begun calling for an end to carte blanche U.S. military aid."

"And then there's Senator John Fetterman. While the rest of his party reluctantly retreats from an ironclad allyship, the Pennsylvania senator has promised to be the "last" Democrat standing with Israel. His political identity is increasingly defined by a blanket defense of the country. Online, Fetterman frequently mocks critics of Israel. In interviews, he has pushed back on claims that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide."

"When pro-Palestine protesters came to his home, Fetterman waved an Israeli flag from his roof; asked on Meet the Press about Israel's pagers attack in Lebanon, which wounded more than 3,000 people and killed 12, the senator said, "I love it." On May 19, Fetterman was the only Democratic senator to vote against a War Powers Resolution intended to stymie the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. "President Trump has been willing to do what's right and necessary to produce real peace in the region," he said when the war began."

""God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel," Fetterman added, as if these elements constitute some kind of geopolitical holy trinity. By Democratic Party standards, Fetterman's position on Israel is extreme. There are a multitude of theories as to why: The senator is a contrarian; he enjoys the attention; he has convinced himself that h"

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