Lapid urges US tour to rebuild ties; new NY rep rejects plan

Yair Lapid suggested that Israeli leaders travel across the United States to meet with governors, local officials, and community groups, a plan that was quickly rejected by a newly elected progressive lawmaker. The opposition leader made the proposal on X on Wednesday, one day after midterm elections shifted control of Congress to Democrats and elevated critics of Israel to public office.

Lapid, the number two figure in the B'Yachad party, argued that the incoming Israeli government should focus on repairing frayed ties with moderate Democrats while isolating hardline anti-Israel legislators. He stated that most Democratic officials do not oppose the state of Israel but are appalled by the behavior of the outgoing right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The proposal came as US public opinion of Israel fell sharply, particularly among Democrats. Many voters expressed anger over the Iran war, which the United States and Israel launched jointly 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 war for Republican election losses and said voters sought a change in the US-Israel relationship.

Lapid wrote that there is an urgent need for leadership and action rather than panic. He acknowledged that the anti-Israel nucleus in the House of Representatives has grown but noted that Democratic leaders such as House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer remain pro-Israel. Lapid asserted that the real problem is not the extremists but the behavior of the current Israeli government, which he described as toxic to many American officials.

He urged Israeli leaders to return to a norm where the country does not pick sides in American politics. He called for the first delegation of the next government to visit the White House and Congress, speaking with both parties. The tour should include meetings with media figures, religious leaders, and Hispanic, Afro-American, and young evangelist communities to reach Americans beyond the political divide.

Hours after Lapid published his post, New York Congressman-elect Brad Lander responded. Lander, who identifies as a liberal Zionist and represents parts of New York City, said US voters are not looking for a barnstorming tour. He argued that the goal is to see respect for international law and human rights. Lander was briefly detained by Israeli forces last month while picking olives in the West Bank with a pro-Palestinian activist group.

Dan Senor, a commentator on Israeli affairs, criticized Lapid’s approach on social media. Senor wrote that Lapid is displaying gaps in understanding while correctly identifying blind spots in Israeli leadership. Senor noted that Lander shut down the proposal on cue, calling the exchange depressing. Lapid replied that he is interested in engaging with those willing to listen and repair the relationship between the two countries.

The upcoming change in congressional leadership places the onus on the next Israeli administration to navigate a more hostile political environment. Democratic lawmakers have increasingly voted against weapons shipments to Israel, a trend that Lapid hopes to reverse through direct engagement. The opposition leader emphasized that Jewish communities in the US are eager to meet with Israeli leaders and hear their explanations.

Lapid concluded that America is waiting for someone to talk to it again. The next government will face the task of rebuilding trust with a bipartisan Congress where the number of anti-Israel members has increased. The proposal for a listening tour remains a central point of debate as the new administration prepares to take office.