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Ben Sales reports at the JTA on a new Gallup poll that asked the American people about their opinion of Israel. The poll found that just a third of Democrats have a favorable view of Israel, a steep decline from just a few years ago. That's "in contrast to 83% of Republicans who view Israel favorably — a partisan gap of 50 points," according to Gallup

The JTA report quotes Jewish Democrats defending their party as a pro-Israel party, but says the RJC disagrees:

The Republican Jewish Coalition begged to differ — pointing to an increasing Jewish Republican vote share, if still a minority, in the 2024 election.

"President Donald J. Trump received a historic share of the Jewish vote in 2024, as Democrats continue to hemorrhage support from the American Jewish community," the group tweeted above a graph of the poll. "The numbers don't lie: there is only ONE pro-Israel party, and it is the GOP."

Gallup's own analysis of the poll results notes that the 50 point partisan gap shatters the previous record of 30 points measured last year, primarily because of a 14-point drop in Democrat support. Gallup says that this year "marks the first time any party group has had majority-level unfavorable ratings of Israel, with 60% of Democrats expressing that view."

McConnell's retirement stokes concerns Massie may run for Senate

Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) retirement, announced on Thursday, could open up a path for Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), among the most consistent opponents of legislation to support Israel and combat antisemitism in the House, to make a bid for the US Senate in the 2026 midterms. The prospect is already generating fierce opposition from the local and national Jewish community.

…The Republican Jewish Coalition quickly pledged that it would mount an aggressive push against Massie if he runs.

"If Tom Massie chooses to enter the race for US Senate in Kentucky, the RJC campaign budget to ensure he is defeated will be unlimited," Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks, who has repeatedly condemned Massie, said in a statement to Jewish Insider.

The RJC previously backed a primary challenge to the libertarian-minded congressman, who also opposes foreign aid broadly.

The RJC is proud to announce the expansion of our government affairs team with the hiring of Arie Dana as Deputy Director of Government Affairs / Director of Executive Branch Relations.

The RJC had record-setting successes in the 2024 election–moving a historic share of the Jewish vote to President Donald Trump and the GOP as part of the winning coalition for the Presidency, US Senate, and House of Representatives. We are more engaged and committed than ever to deliver for the Jewish community and pro-Israel patriots across our country.

Arie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the RJC, including 15 years working with California Congresswoman Michelle Steel, most recently as her Chief of Staff on Capitol Hill. Arie led the office to move bipartisan pieces of legislation forward, including ramping up sanctions on Iran, combating antisemitism, and unleashing America's economy.

Arie's hiring as Deputy Director of Government Affairs / Director of Executive Branch Relations highlights the incredible growth and increasing scope of the RJC's critical work with the new Republican trifecta government in Washington DC.

We noted two weeks ago that the Palestinian Authority, while reportedly ending its "pay for slay" program, was actually restructuring it.

This week, PA leader Mahmoud Abbas told a Fatah Revolutionary Council meeting, "I have told you before and mark my words, even if we only have one cent left, it will be for the prisoners and martyrs." Jewish Insider notes that the PA "has paid monthly salaries to terrorists in prison or the families of terrorists killed by Israel for over 30 years, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars annually in recent years."

Republican Senators spoke out against this latest confirmation that the PA is continuing its "martyr payments" to terrorists and their families. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said in a statement: "Abbas and other top Palestinian Authority officials have said for years, over and over again, that they consider pay-for-slay payments and the terrorism those payments incentivize to be at the core of Palestinian governance and identity. They never stopped the payments, and they were never going to."

"I think the whole 'pay-for-slay' program is just an atrocity. It's an abomination. The fact that they would even consider continuing it is shocking to me, frankly," Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) told the Jewish Insider.

Trump rips up Biden memo aimed at Israel on rights abuses using US arms

The Trump administration has rescinded a Biden-era order aimed at Israel that required the government to report potential violations of international law involving US-supplied weapons by allies. President Joe Biden signed the memo amid pressure from progressive Democrats who specifically were looking to curb US military assistance to Israel.

Mast directs Foreign Affairs Committee to refer to West Bank as Judea and Samaria

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) instructed committee staff to refer to the West Bank as Judea and Samaria in all official documents and communications going forward, stating that Congress should "recognize Israel's rightful claim to the cradle of Jewish civilization."

Gaza captor told hostages that Hamas collaborates with US campus protesters, lawsuit alleges

A Hamas member who held Israelis hostage in Gaza told the captives that the terror group was coordinating with "allies" on college campuses and in the media, according to a lawsuit filed in US court on Friday.

The lawsuit was filed by former hostages Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv. All three were taken from the Nova music festival in southern Israel during Hamas's October 7, 2023, invasion of Israel.

They were held in Gaza by Abdallah Aljamal, according to the lawsuit and the IDF. Aljamal was a writer for the Palestine Chronicle, a news outlet run by the People Media Project, a US-based, tax-exempt nonprofit that is the focus of the lawsuit.

Itzik Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, Shlomo Mantzur, Tsachi Idan murdered by Hamas

The Prime Minister's Office announced on Thursday that the deaths of Ohad Yahalomi (50), Tsachi Idan (50), Shlomo Mantzur (87), and Itzik Elgarat (69) have been confirmed following forensic analyses.

… Ohad Yahalomi, Tsachi Idan and Itzik Elgarat were murdered while held hostage in Gaza. Shlomo Mantzur was murdered in the 7 October 2023 massacre and his body had been held in the Gaza Strip," the official statement continued.

… With the return of the four, Israel has now received all 33 hostages that were to be handed over in the first phase of the ceasefire deal. Twenty-five returned alive.

May their memories be a blessing. - RJC