The Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies (MADAR), in cooperation with the Carter Center, held the second session of its Roundtable Programme, titled “Israel’s Shifting Standing in the U.S. Political Landscape,” at the Qattan Cultural Centre in Ramallah. The session examined the erosion of the traditional bipartisan consensus on support for Israel and the role of changing public opinion and organised grassroots action in reshaping U.S. political debate on Palestine. The discussion paper was updated in November 2026 following the U.S. midterm elections.

Zaha Hassan, a human rights lawyer and senior fellow in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, presented the main paper. George Zeidan, the Carter Center’s country representative in Palestine, and Inès Abdel Razek, co-director of the Palestinian Institute for Public Diplomacy, served as discussants.

Hassan focused on the structural and generational dimensions of shifting American attitudes towards Israel. She explained that these changes predated the war on Gaza, which accelerated and deepened them. Growing sympathy for Palestinians and criticism of Israeli policies, she noted, extend beyond Democratic voters to sections of younger Republicans and evangelical Christians, who have traditionally formed an important part of Israel’s support base.

Hassan explained that changing public opinion has begun to find expression within political institutions, through broader congressional debate over arms transfers to Israel and a growing willingness among elected officials to challenge Israeli policies and scrutinise U.S. support. She also highlighted the greater scope for candidates to criticise Israel and defend Palestinian rights while remaining electorally competitive.

Hassan linked these developments to voters’ growing awareness of the relationship between U.S. spending abroad and economic and social needs at home, alongside increasing criticism of Israel among sections of the American Jewish community. She concluded that these shifts reflect deeper changes that reach beyond attitudes towards a particular Israeli government and are likely to outlast a change in Israel’s political leadership.

Zeidan discussed the importance of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections and the subsequent electoral trajectory within the Democratic Party in shaping U.S. policy towards Palestine and Israel. He explained that Palestine has become a dividing line between the party’s establishment and progressive wings, increasingly intersecting with debates over the cost of living, healthcare, immigration and the influence of money in politics, including the role of pro-Israel lobbying groups.

Zeidan highlighted electoral contests in states including Michigan, Wisconsin and Maine as tests of whether candidates supporting Palestinian rights can win beyond safe Democratic districts. He stressed the importance of translating expanding pro-Palestinian discourse into concrete policies, including restrictions on transfers of offensive weapons to Israel, recognition of the State of Palestine, restoration of funding to UNRWA, and measures addressing economic activities linked to settlements.

In her remarks, Abdel Razek emphasised the political and community organising behind shifts in American public opinion. She traced these changes to nearly two decades of sustained grassroots work involving Palestinians, Arab Americans, Jewish activists, and solidarity movements and groups.

Abdel Razek stressed the importance of building coalitions across social groups, organising campaigns and sustaining work within local communities as foundations for carrying change from the grassroots into institutions. She also highlighted the potential to draw on this experience in developing advocacy for Palestinian rights elsewhere, including Europe and Latin America.

The discussion highlighted the opportunities that declining unconditional support for Israel creates for Palestinian political action, while emphasising the sustained work required to translate those opportunities into changes in U.S. policy. The central challenge lies in connecting shifts in public opinion and grassroots organising to specific political demands and effective mechanisms for institutional influence and accountability.

The session forms part of MADAR’s Roundtable Programme, which connects specialised research with dialogue on developments in Israel, its international relations and their implications for Palestinians. The programme aims to make knowledge available to inform positions and strategies grounded in rigorous analysis.

The Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies (MADAR), in cooperation with the Carter Center, held the second session of its Roundtable Programme, titled “Israel’s Shifting Standing in the U.S. Political Landscape,” at the Qattan Cultural Centre in Ramallah. The session examined the erosion of the traditional bipartisan consensus on support for Israel and the role of changing public opinion and organised grassroots action in reshaping U.S. political debate on Palestine. The paper presented at the session was subsequently updated in November 2026, following the U.S. midterm elections.

Zaha Hassan, a human rights lawyer and senior fellow in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, presented the main paper. George Zeidan, the Carter Center’s country representative in Palestine, and Inès Abdel Razek, co-director of the Palestinian Institute for Public Diplomacy, served as discussants.

Hassan focused on the structural and generational dimensions of shifting American attitudes towards Israel. She explained that these changes predated the war on Gaza, which accelerated and deepened them. Growing sympathy for Palestinians and criticism of Israeli policies, she noted, extend beyond Democratic voters to sections of young Republicans and evangelical Christians, who have traditionally formed an important part of Israel’s support base.

Hassan explained that changing public opinion has begun to find expression within political institutions, through broader congressional debate over arms transfers to Israel and a growing willingness among elected officials to challenge Israeli policies and scrutinise U.S. support. She also highlighted the greater scope for candidates to criticise Israel and defend Palestinian rights while remaining electorally competitive.

Hassan linked these developments to voters’ growing awareness of the relationship between U.S. spending abroad and economic and social needs at home, alongside increasing criticism of Israel among sections of the American Jewish community. She concluded that these shifts reflect deeper changes that extend beyond attitudes towards a particular Israeli government and are likely to outlast a change in Israel’s political leadership.

Zeidan discussed the importance of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections and the subsequent electoral trajectory within the Democratic Party in shaping U.S. policy towards Palestine and Israel. He explained that Palestine has become a dividing line between the party’s establishment and progressive wings, increasingly intersecting with debates over the cost of living, healthcare, immigration and the influence of money in politics, including the role of pro-Israel lobbying groups.

Zeidan highlighted electoral contests in states including Michigan, Wisconsin and Maine as tests of whether candidates supporting Palestinian rights can win beyond safe Democratic districts. He stressed the importance of translating expanding pro-Palestinian discourse into concrete policies, including restrictions on transfers of offensive weapons to Israel, recognition of the State of Palestine, restoration of funding to UNRWA, and measures addressing economic activities linked to settlements.

In her remarks, Abdel Razek emphasised the political and community organising behind shifts in American public opinion. She traced these changes to nearly two decades of sustained grassroots work involving Palestinians, Arab Americans, Jewish activists, and solidarity movements and groups.

Abdel Razek stressed the importance of building coalitions across social groups, organising campaigns and sustaining work within local communities as foundations for changing attitudes from the grassroots through to political institutions. She also highlighted the potential to draw on this experience in developing advocacy for Palestinian rights elsewhere, including Europe and Latin America.

The discussion highlighted the opportunities that declining unconditional support for Israel creates for Palestinian political action, while emphasising the sustained work required to translate those opportunities into changes in U.S. policy. The central challenge lies in connecting shifts in public opinion and grassroots organising to specific political demands and effective mechanisms for institutional influence and accountability.

The session forms part of MADAR’s Roundtable Programme, which connects specialised research with dialogue on developments in Israel, its international relations and their implications for Palestinians. The programme aims to provide the knowledge needed to develop positions and strategies grounded in rigorous analysis.