Israel’s detractors in the United States had hoped that the muted engagement with the latest Gaza war meant support for the Jewish state was waning as an electoral issue.

In previous US elections, both for Congress and the White House, support for Israel has been one of the things candidates talk about most. There is reasonable speculation that Donald Trump’s outspoken support for Israel is what put him in the Oval Office.

See: Israelis Convinced Christians to Vote Trump

With mid-term elections approaching, there was expectation that congressional candidates would be talking up their pro-Israel bonafides amidst Operation Breaking Dawn, which saw Israel take on the Gaza-based terror group Islamic Jihad.

Given that the “war” lasted only a few days with minimal casualties, it didn’t garner much attention, either in the media or on Capitol Hill.

Anti-Israel voices like those behind the Jewish-run, far-left blog Mondoweiss attributed this not to the short length of the hostilities, but rather to a sharp turn against Israel in the increasingly progressive Democratic Party.

The blog’s co-editor Philip Weiss wrote:

“[A] surprising number of Democratic politicians have been silent on [Operation Breaking Dawn]. And in my hopeful way, I think it’s a reflection of the fact that Israel is becoming a toxic brand inside the Democratic Party, so Dems are not rushing to embrace it.”

Weiss was particularly pleased when Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the Democratic nominee to fill the open Pennsylvania Senate seat to be vacated by Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, initially failed to publicly back Israel right to defend itself.

“Nothing from John Fetterman running for Senate in Pennsylvania in a tight battle against a Trump candidate,” wrote Weiss.

Fetterman is going up against Dr. Mehmet Oz, a known television personality-turned-Republican politician. Though he is Muslim, Dr. Oz was unabashed in his support for Israel, tweeting:

“I strongly condemn the attacks on Israeli civilians by the Iran-backed Islamic Jihad in Gaza. Israel has a right to do whatever it has to to defend itself [sic]. As senator, I will always stand with Israel and make sure the Iron Dome is fully funded.”

I strongly condemn the attacks on Israeli civilians by the Iran-backed Islamic Jihad in Gaza. Israel has a right to do whatever it has to to defend itself. As Senator I will always stand with Israel and make sure the Iron Dome is fully funded. https://t.co/YDmGIPwx9L

— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) August 6, 2022

Weiss and other progressive detractors took Fetterman’s early failure to add his voice to the pro-Israel chorus as further evidence that support for the Jewish state was becoming a partisan issue.

See: Is American Foreign Policy Flip-Flopping the New Norm?

But it seems Weiss celebrated too soon.

In a statement issued to JNS at the weekend, Fetterman’s team insisted that he stands unequivocally with Israel:

“[John Fetterman] is and always has been a pro-Israel Democrat. He strongly believes that Israel has the right to defend itself, and has pledged to always lean in and support Israel’s security. He is proud to be supported by groups like Democratic Majority for Israel.”

With reporting by JNS.