🔻There are clear divisions within the Republican Party over the issue of Israel

🖋Brand Dobsman, BBC correspondent

Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Washington is taking place at a time when different factions within the Republican Party have developed a clear split over the type of relationship the United States should have with Israel. On the one hand, there are Republicans like Senator Lindsey Graham, who remain staunch supporters of Israel and back the continued provision of U.S. military aid to this country, continuing to emphasize America’s longstanding commitment to Israel’s security. On the other hand, there are those within the MAGA movement (Make America Great Again) who have become especially disillusioned and unhappy with this old ally because of the Iran war. They believe that Israel has played a role in pushing the United States toward a war that is not particularly popular with the public. Joe Kent, the head of the National Center for Counterterrorism, who is seen as a popular figure within the MAGA movement, believed that Israel and its lobby in the United States encouraged Donald Trump to carry out military strikes, and he stepped down in protest. There is also another rift that the Republican Party must deal with; a rift that stems from generational differences. The results of a poll by the Pew Institute, published earlier this year, show that while older Republicans still largely support Israel, 57% of Republicans aged 18 to 49 hold a negative view of this country.