USAupdated 2h ago2 min read
Democrats Win Majorities In U.S. House And Senate, Israel Warns Of Tighter Oversight
“Democrats seem intent on forcing it come January.”
“We will frequently witness so-called political ‘gridlock’, meaning a lack of profound reforms”
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Democrats win majority in House and Senate, with House at least 228 seats. Israel warns that a Democratic Congress will increase scrutiny of U.S. support for Israel.
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Democrats seize Congress
Democrats won a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the midterm elections held Tuesday, while vote counting continued in some states to determine final results. Ma’ariv said the results carry significant implications for the relationship with Washington, pointing to Democrats who oppose U.S. military aid to Israel and criticize its policies in Gaza, and it highlighted Democrat Trawi Jackson’s victory in Maine over Republican Senator Susan Collins. Yediot Ahronot described the outcome as a “historic blue tsunami,” saying Democrats “invaded the House and the Senate” and exceeded polling expectations to inflict a harsh defeat on President Donald Trump.
“Humiliating defeat for Trump: Democrats storm House and Senate in historic blue tsunami.”
Israel Hayom warned that Democrats’ control of both Congress houses would give them, starting early next year, the power to block legislation and top appointments and to open investigations into Trump’s administration. Channel 14, aligned with Netanyahu, called the results a “harsh blow” to Trump and Israel and warned of tighter oversight of arms deals and shipments to Israel.
Israel weighs the fallout
Israel Hayom said that as Republicans begin to distance themselves from the president, Israel will be forced to deal with a Congress that is much more critical of it. Israel Hayom warned that files of confrontation with Iran, sanctions, and regional agreements requiring congressional approval could become points of contention with the White House. Channel 14 described the election results as a “major blow” and said chairmanship of the committees dealing with foreign affairs, defense, and appropriations would shift to the Democrats.
Opposition figures linked the results to “the all-time low in relations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the Democratic Party.” Democrats will go into the 120th Congress with at least 228 seats in the House and a 54-44 lead in the Senate, with Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi still not called as of publication.
War, aid, and oversight
Israel Hayom said Trump’s announcement of halting U.S. aid by the end of the year confirmed that arms sales to Israel will remain under congressional oversight, even when financed with Israeli funds. Democrats’ midterm gains threaten to force an end to the Iran war and scrutinize Trump’s Middle East dealings, leaving Israel’s closest alliance facing a reckoning. Democrats will go into the 120th Congress with at least 228 seats in the House and that Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi were still not called, while Democrats would lack the 60 votes needed to bypass the filibuster without GOP support.
“It added, ‘As Republicans begin to distance themselves from the president, Israel will find itself forced to deal with a Congress that is much more critical of it.’”
Oil prices fell on uncertainty about the war with Iran after Democrats took control of Congress, with Brent futures down $1.75, or 0.7%, at $101.85 a barrel at 10:34 GMT. French newspaper Libération called the Democrats’ win “une vague bleue,” while Britain’s Daily Mail dubbed it a “historic blue tsunami,” and it noted that countries at war were watching closely.