'If Democrats become anti-Israel, I’d leave' – Sen John Fetterman’s warning rocks Washington

The rumors have been swirling for weeks.

Could John Fetterman, the Democratic senator from Pennsylvania, actually leave the party over Israel?

It may sound far-fetched, but it’s no longer a hypothetical question. Fetterman himself has openly acknowledged there is one issue that could cause him to walk away from his party: Israel.

“If our party ever becomes – and just makes it official – the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me,” Fetterman recently said.

That statement prompted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to weigh in and make a public appeal for Fetterman to stay.

“People in our caucus very much like him and respect him,” Schumer said. “We’re a big-tent party. We can have a lot of different views in that party.” Actually, the accumulated evidence suggests something quite the contrary.

As Israel has become one of the most divisive issues inside Democratic politics, Fetterman has increasingly found himself isolated from many in his own party while simultaneously earning praise from Republicans and Israeli leaders alike.

Nothing illustrated that divide more clearly than his meeting Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On display was a show of mutual admiration between Israel’s leader and perhaps the Senate’s strongest Democratic supporter of the Jewish state.

Netanyahu opened the meeting with unusually personal praise.

“Senator Fetterman, I want to thank you for your unwavering support for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said. “You’ve simply been an extraordinary friend. In times when it’s not always easy to stand with Israel, you’ve done it with clarity and courage. The people of Israel know who our friends are, and we deeply appreciate your steadfast support.”

Those aren’t the kind of comments Israeli prime ministers routinely offer American Democrats these days. As a matter of fact, it rarely happens at all.

Fetterman’s response left little doubt why Netanyahu views him so favorably. “Mr. Prime Minister, it was a supreme honor during my time in the Senate to proudly stand with and for Israel,” Fetterman replied.

“I was the only Democrat in my caucus that would interact and stand with the Prime Minister when he gave that joint address. I’m proud to stand with Israel through everything.”

Then came even stronger words and a direct rebuke of his party. “I’m proud to remain the conscience of the Democratic Party in Congress – not just the Senate, but over in Congress,” Fetterman said. “As Democrats continue to abandon Israel, I’ll continue to speak out and stand with Israel…Our commitment to Israel has to remain ironclad.”

That message has become increasingly uncommon within Democratic politics. The growing progressive wing has become sharply critical of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government, pushed to condition military aid and accused Israel of committing atrocities during its war against Hamas.

Several recent Democratic primaries have turned Israel into a defining issue, with candidates increasingly staking out positions that would have been politically unimaginable only a few years ago.

Fetterman has refused to follow that trend.

Since Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks, he has consistently defended Israel’s military campaign, repeatedly called for Hamas to be defeated and frequently criticized members of his own party whom he believes have abandoned America’s closest ally in the Middle East. He also reaffirmed his belief that Hamas must never again have the capability to threaten Israel.

Fetterman doubled down on his reputation as one of Israel’s most outspoken defenders this week during a fiery exchange with a reporter from the anti-Israel outlet Drop Site News. Asked about Israeli military operations targeting Hamas leaders, the Pennsylvania Democrat didn’t mince words. “I’m okay and I love killing Hamas leadership,” Fetterman responded before accusing the outlet of siding with America’s adversaries. “I don’t know why your network is so pro-Hamas and pro-Iran,” he said, adding that Israel should continue eliminating the terrorist group’s leadership.

The blunt remarks immediately spread across social media, drawing both praise from Israel supporters and criticism from pro-Palestinian activists. But for Fetterman, it was entirely consistent with the position he has maintained since Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack. He has repeatedly argued that Hamas bears sole responsibility for the war and has insisted that lasting peace is impossible unless the terrorist organization is dismantled.

The episode further underscored how dramatically Fetterman has separated himself from many Democrats on the Israel issue, reinforcing his image as perhaps the party’s most unapologetic supporter of the Jewish state. 

For Republicans, Fetterman’s unwavering support has been refreshing. Some have even openly floated the idea of him switching parties, but Fetterman, so far at least, has repeatedly rejected that notion.

He has made clear that he remains firmly aligned with Democrats on organized labor, health care, abortion rights and a host of domestic issues. But Israel remains the one issue where he says principle outweighs party.