Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel delivered a blistering critique of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a speech at Tel Aviv University on Wednesday, accusing him of steering the country into a strategic dead end. Emanuel, who also served as chief of staff to President Barack Obama, warned that Israel risks becoming a prisoner of its own military dominance.
“In the United States, we have a saying: ‘If all you have is a hammer, everything you look at is a nail,’” Emanuel said. “Israel will become a prisoner of its own tools. Your military is a hammer, such that, to the prime minister, Netanyahu, every security challenge is a nail.”
While Emanuel praised Israel’s achievements since its founding in 1948—calling it a nation that “made the desert bloom” through imagination and tenacity—he argued that the current government has squandered that legacy. He specifically criticized Netanyahu for pursuing policies that have alienated allies and deepened the conflict with Palestinians.
Directing his remarks at Netanyahu, Emanuel said the prime minister and his coalition “have led Israel to a dead end … without conditions, without demands, without consequences” from Washington. He labeled the lack of U.S. pressure a “mistake.”
“Unconditional support has allowed you to deny food and medical relief to innocent Palestinians in Gaza, leaving the world to conclude that Israelis not only want to kill Palestinians, but they are completely indifferent to their death, to their destruction and completely indifferent to their suffering,” Emanuel charged.
The speech also touched on Emanuel’s personal history with Netanyahu. As Obama’s chief of staff, he challenged the prime minister over settlement construction in the West Bank, prompting Netanyahu to publicly call him a “self-loathing Jew.” Emanuel recalled that exchange, adding that Netanyahu believes “being Sparta is worthwhile.” He argued that Israel is now “more diplomatically and politically isolated than ever before” by choice.
Emanuel, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, called on Israelis to support working with Arab countries as partners and to back Palestinian self-determination. He warned that if he has any influence, there will be sanctions against new Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, settler violence, and Israeli officials who endorse new settlements.
“Those chanting ‘from the river to the sea’ need to hear this,” he said. “You will never have your way. But those calling for a ‘Greater Israel,’ you need to hear this. You will never have your way, either.”
Emanuel’s remarks come amid a broader shift in U.S. public opinion. An Associated Press-NORC poll released Tuesday found that 58 percent of Democrats believe the United States is supporting Israel too much, while only 20 percent say the level of support is just right. This growing unease mirrors tensions within the Democratic Party, as seen in recent primaries and debates over Israel policy. Earlier this year, New York primaries deepened the Democratic rift over Israel, and a Massie amendment exposed deep Democratic rifts over Israel aid.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, has pushed back against criticism from abroad. In a recent exchange, he rejected warnings from U.S. officials and claimed Israel has many friends beyond the United States. But Emanuel’s speech underscored the mounting pressure on the Israeli leader from within the American political establishment, particularly as the war in Gaza continues to exact a heavy civilian toll.
