Ask A Genius 1497: Netanyahu, Gaza War, and Declining U.S. Support for Israel
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/08/20
Rick Rosner argues that U.S. public opinion on Israel is shifting because of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s far-right coalition and the ongoing Gaza war, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. He links Netanyahu’s prolonging of the conflict to his corruption trial, suggesting political survival drives military escalation. Rosner condemns Israel’s deliberate targeting of journalists—186 killed since October 2023—as evidence of systemic brutality. While affirming support for Israel’s right to exist, he stresses that Netanyahu’s government acts corruptly and recklessly, undermining democratic values. This erosion of trust explains why Americans increasingly question Israel’s conduct and U.S. support.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: According to Politico, Americans are changing their views on Israel. Any thoughts?
Rick Rosner: Israel has lost much support—and for good reason. Israel continues to carry out military operations that kill large numbers of innocent Palestinians. And they are often unapologetic. Netanyahu, to stay in power, built a ruling coalition with far-right extremist parties. Because Israel has a parliamentary system with many parties, no one party usually wins a majority, so coalitions are necessary. Netanyahu has chosen to ally with the far right—politicians who openly support the mass displacement of Palestinians.
Netanyahu himself has been on trial for corruption since 2021. The prosecution wrapped its case in July 2024, and the defence closed in December 2024. But as long as he remains prime minister, the legal process cannot move forward to sentencing. He has every incentive to prolong the war in Gaza because ending it could mean his removal from office and exposure to conviction. At 75, he is trying to run out the clock—hoping that by the time appeals and delays are over, he will be too old to face prison.
So yes, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, and part of Netanyahu’s motivation is avoiding prison. That is horrifying. Plenty of Israelis oppose him, but the opposition has been unable to oust him or shift military policy. This war has been ongoing since October 2023, marking twenty-one months of conflict. At this point, Israel has to take responsibility. Israel has many good people, but under Netanyahu’s leadership, the country is misbehaving.
I support Israel’s right to exist. I always have. But what Netanyahu’s government is doing is corrupt and brutal. When they bombed that tent of five Al Jazeera journalists, it was not an accident. Israel has killed 186 journalists in this conflict. You cannot kill that many journalists by mistake.
In the latest case, they claimed the prominent reporter had ties to Hamas. Even if that were true, he was working as a journalist at the time, not as a Hamas operative. And the four others killed with him had no such ties. So yes—Israel is deliberately targeting journalists.
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