There is hardly anything that leaves room for optimism about the Israeli government that is currently being formed. However, if one stretches optimism to the very maximum, one can say that it is bound to be an administration that demarcates the lines of the discourse in society more clearly than ever and will no longer leave anyone with the option of sitting on the fence regarding their stand on its ideology and policies. A government whose prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, despite doing well in the recent general election, is weak and held to ransom by far-right elements in his government because of his ongoing corruption trial is one that is destined to be divisive at home and aggressively confrontational abroad. But there is an additional, crucial element in Israeli politics and that is its relations with the Jewish diaspora around the world and especially the largest, in the US. A government such as the next Israeli one is expected to be one that will conduct an assault on the very foundations of the democratic system; represent solely the Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox strands of Judaism; and destroy whatever likelihood remains of a just and fair peace agreement with the Palestinians. As a consequence, it will most probably lead to discord with large parts of the international community and is also a recipe for friction with Jewish communities across the world. It will make the majority of Jewish communities, most notably the more liberal-progressive elements among them, very uncomfortable for both moral and practical reasons, and none will be more discomfited than America’s Jews. Relations between Israel, which is a product of the Zionist movement, and the Jewish diaspora has always been, by definition, paradoxical. Zionism represents an ideology that, first and foremost, has always negated diaspora life and sanctified the gathering of Jewish people in a national home — what it describes as a “normal” existence as a nation among nations. Nevertheless, from the early days of constructing an independent life in Palestine before independence, and in Israel in its aftermath, the support of those whose way of life Zionism utterly derides was essential to guarantee the fulfillment of the dream of being recognized as a state and subsequently ensuring its security and well-being. For many Jews residing beyond this nation state, Israel has been a source of pride and also an insurance policy “for a rainy day” — should they ever need a safe haven. That said, and especially since 1967, the rise of the right, of the ultra-Orthodox and religious messianism that led to the building of illegal settlements in the West Bank and the entrenchment of the occupation, led many among Jewish communities around the world to develop a duality in their relations with Israel. The occupation and oppression of another people and the attack on the democratic system clashes with the values held by so many in the Jewish community and can also, unfortunately, be linked to a despicable and unjustifiable rise in anti-Semitism. American Jewry is the second-largest in the world after Israel and is estimated at about 7.5 million people. Through the years, it has lent Israel support in all possible ways, whether in terms of financial aid, lobbying politicians in order to garner support for Israel or by investing heavily in the country’s economy. But their love and devotion to their brethren in the Middle East does not always translate to sharing the same political views. A survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that American Jewry is less religious than most other Americans and holds liberal views; hence, unsurprisingly, more than 70 percent of them identify as Democrats. And while a large majority — 82 percent — say that caring about Israel is either “essential” or “important,” to their Jewish identity, many of them think the US is too supportive of Israel. This sentiment is especially expressed by those leaning toward the Democrats. And it should encourage the Biden administration to be more critical of the new Israeli government, especially as more than half of US Jews also give a negative rating to Netanyahu, while 63 percent say they think a way can be found for Israel to coexist peacefully with an independent Palestinian state. In light of the antidemocratic, racist, homophobic and misogynist ideology that defines many members of the expected Netanyahu government, there is not only revulsion in large parts of the US diaspora, but also the fear that advocating and actively supporting an Israeli administration that holds to this worldview might end up reflecting on themselves and open them to accusations of having double standards when it comes to politics at home versus politics in Israel. Most offensive to American Jews is that Netanyahu has agreed, by changing the Law of Return, to grant exclusive power to far-right Orthodox politicians to define who is recognized as a Jew and thus qualified to emigrate to Israel. As Israeli law stands, the grandchildren of Jews are qualified to take up Israeli citizenship and a change in this law is more likely to affect Jews in Russia and Ukraine, for instance, who are more likely to currently be looking for a safe haven. But for US Jewry it is a matter of principle. Moreover, a change in the law agreed between Netanyahu and his political partners to no longer recognize non-Orthodox conversion will alienate the majority of American Jews, who belong to Reform, Conservative or Reconstructionist Judaism. Their love and devotion to their brethren in the Middle East does not always translate to sharing the same political views. Yossi Mekelberg America’s Jews, along with all other Jewish communities worldwide, will very soon have a decision to make about how to approach a country they love and cherish but whose government pursues policies that go against their core beliefs and puts them at risk. Wavering is no longer an option. However, this situation also offers a welcome opportunity for Jewish communities around the world to remove the shackles of their self-imposed obligation to provide blanket support for Israeli policies. Supporting Israel as Jewish and democratic, even as a cultural and spiritual home, is one thing, but endorsing a bigoted government that offends so many, in so many Jewish communities worldwide, questions their Judaism, asks them to compromise their values and beliefs and also puts them in harm’s way is something completely different. Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. He is a regular contributor to the international written and electronic media. Twitter: @YMekelberg