Former U.S. official to call for changes in U.S.-Israel ties during Tel Aviv speech

A former U.S. official scheduled to speak at Tel Aviv University on Wednesday will state that the U.S.-Israel relationship stands at a crossroads and requires significant changes. The remarks, obtained by The Associated Press, include criticism of Israel's military response to the October 7, 2023 attacks and proposals to impose sanctions on Israelis who attack Palestinian civilians along with ending U.S. subsidies for Israel's defense budget.

Speech content and proposals The address will also fault Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for driving the country to a dead end and will note that unconditional U.S. support has produced a prime minister who presumed his strategic interests would incur no cost.

Additional proposals include requiring Israel to purchase American arms under the same financial terms as other allies and advancing a 23-state solution that includes Israel, the Palestinians, and the 21 other Arab League members.

Public opinion context An AP-NORC survey found that 58 percent of Democrats now say the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, up from 45 percent in January 2024, while roughly half believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians. The speaker arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday and plans to visit a hospital serving both Israelis and Palestinians as well as meet with the family of an October 7 hostage while avoiding meetings with Israeli elected officials ahead of the country's October elections.