Lapid says US ‘not lost,’ urges tour to restore bipartisan support; NYC’s Lander rebuffs him

Opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X that America is not 'lost' and proposed an Israeli listening tour of the US to rebuild bipartisan support after Democratic midterm gains. Hours later, New York Congressman-elect Brad Lander rejected the idea, saying voters want respect for international law and human rights, not a 'barnstorming' tour. Lapid blamed Netanyahu's government for Democratic alienation.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X on Wednesday that America is not "lost" and proposed an Israeli listening tour of the United States to rebuild declining bipartisan support, a day after US midterm elections elevated a group of anti-Israel politicians to office. Hours later, New York Congressman-elect Brad Lander rejected the proposal, saying American voters want respect for international law and human rights, not a "barnstorming" tour. Lapid, No. 2 in the opposition B'Yachad party, urged the incoming Israeli government to isolate hardline anti-Israel Democrats while repairing ties with moderates in a party that now controls both houses of Congress. He proposed that Israeli leaders meet not only politicians but leaders of US Jewry and other religious and ethnic communities across the ideological spectrum, and again advocated ousting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which he called "toxic." He acknowledged that "the anti-Israel nucleus in the House of Representatives has grown," but noted that House and Senate Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer are both pro-Israel. "The real problem isn't the extremists," he wrote, arguing most Democratic lawmakers "don't hate us" but object to settler violence and to Netanyahu. "America is not lost. It is waiting for somebody to talk to it again," he concluded. Lander, who describes himself as a liberal Zionist and has accused Israel of genocide, replied that he cares about Israel but that Lapid is not listening to voters. Commentator Dan Senor called the exchange depressing, saying Lapid was displaying his own blind spots about ascendant progressive forces. Lapid answered in English that some will oppose Israel regardless. The exchange follows a Democratic midterm sweep that brought lawmakers who accuse Israel of genocide into Congress, falling US public opinion of Israel, and anger over the Iran war launched jointly by the US and Israel in February. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced a halt to military aid for Israel at the end of the year; on Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance blamed the Iran war for Republican losses.