Israel has become a toxic brand in the US - so its advocates are shifting tactics

What Happened

Middle East Eye reports that Israeli advocates, responding to waning public and political support in the US, are pursuing a legislative strategy to permanently embed Israel's security interests in US law. Two measures are being inserted into must-pass bills: the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would create an executive agent for US-Israel defense integration, require Israeli technology in major US defense purchases, and expand tech sharing; the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) would mandate broad intelligence sharing with Israel and any Arab or Muslim country normalizing ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, with the president allowed to withhold intelligence from Israel only for a 'specific and identifiable national security concern' justified to Congress. A third prong seeks to establish a new weapons and technology pipeline bypassing Congress, amid growing opposition to unconditional aid. These legally binding provisions are designed to make future disentanglement exceedingly difficult, regardless of public opinion or presidential policy.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The reported legislative push aims to structurally bind US foreign and defense policy to Israel's interests, bypassing public opinion and elected officials. If enacted, these provisions would institutionalize joint defense planning, intelligence sharing, and technology integration, making it legally complex for any future administration to condition aid, exclude Israel from strategic decisions, or reassess the relationship—even as domestic opposition grows. This could permanently tilt US policy in the region, entangle Washington more deeply in Israeli security priorities, and undermine democratic accountability on a major foreign policy issue.

Watch For

The inclusion and fate of the Israel-specific amendments as the NDAA and IAA move through committee markups and floor votes in Congress; reactions from progressive Democrats, libertarian-leaning Republicans, and national security-focused members; any presidential statements or signing warnings; legal challenges if enacted; development of the proposed Congress-bypassing weapons pipeline; and broader fallout on Abraham Accords normalization incentives and US-Iran diplomacy. Also monitor the 2024 election cycle for candidates' stances on these measures and any parallel efforts to condition or restrict aid to Israel.