A one-time Democrat living in Israel says he proudly cast his ballot for former President Trump in a swing state — and says he is far from alone.
“I have been a lifelong Democrat. But that changed in October of last year. Sadly, I feel like the Democratic Party is not the same as it was even five years ago,” said Netanel Worthy, 37, who mailed his vote for Trump in the battleground state of Arizona in September. “I changed my party registration to Republican about six months ago. I know many that are following suit.”
His vote highlights a state that appears to be solidly behind Donald Trump — the Jewish State.
Israel is home to as many as 200,000 Americans eligible to vote, and many registered in critical swing states — and Republicans are hunting for their votes.
Trump’s margin of victory there would likely exceed even the reddest bastions of the United States such as West Virginia and Alabama.
New billboards have been placed along Ayalon Highway, one of Israel’s busiest thoroughfares.
“Israel Votes Trump,” blare the ads, which were paid for by the Israel chapter of Republicans Overseas, Israel chapter, a 527 political organization.
Worthy, who works in tech, moved to the northern Israeli city of Safed in 2021, and now his life is dominated by Hezbollah’s relentless campaign of terrorism the country.
“Every day I have rockets fired at my home. And every single night I fall asleep to the rumbling of artillery fire on the other side of the border,” he said.
“The Democratic Party has threatened multiple times to cut funding or institute an arms embargo against Israel. Not only does this make Israelis unsafe — half the world’s Jewish population — but as an American citizen, I now have to worry about my safety because of these actions.”
A widely regarded poll of 507 adults from Israel’s Channel 12 this week found 66% of Israelis were keen to see Trump win the 2024 presidential election, while Vice President Harris commanded the support of just 17%. A further 17% said they did not know.
“I think Israelis feel Harris doesn’t understand the dynamics of the Middle East. Her statements on a two-state solution give Israelis the sense that she is woefully out of touch with reality. How do you make peace with the people who committed atrocities and vow to do so again,” said Aviva Klompas, a social media influencer and former head of speechwriting at Israel’s Mission to the United Nations.
Other insiders note Trump’s decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, long promised by presidents of both parties, and his recognition of Israeli sovereignty of the Golan Heights, likely played a role in the lopsided support.
While he was president Trump also defunded the United Nations Relief and Works Agency or UNRWA, a Palestinian relief organization with longstanding ties to terrorism.
President Biden quickly restored the funds when he took office.
There were also the Abraham Accords, a series of Middle East peace agreements Trump brokered between Israel and their Arab neighbors.
