Zionist lobby targets ‘America First’ voices as GOP support wavers

2026-03-26 - 07:59

Sernur Yassıkaya / Chief Foreign News Editor of Yeni Şafak The Zionist lobby in Washington is intensifying its efforts to suppress dissent within conservative circles as evidence mounts that Israeli interests played a decisive role in steering the US toward war with Iran. After losing significant ground among Democratic voters over Israel’s actions in Gaza, pro-Israel groups are now targeting prominent “America First” voices who advocate for prioritizing US national interests over foreign commitments. A campaign of accusations Alan Dershowitz, a prominent Zionist advocate, recently appeared on television to accuse leading conservative figures of belonging to what he called a “neo-Nazi fascist movement.” His targets included Joe Kent, Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, and Candace Owens—all of whom have questioned the direction of US foreign policy and Israel’s influence in Washington. Dershowitz went further, characterizing their efforts as “an ideological coup attempt” against the Republican Party. Laura Loomer, another vocal Zionist supporter, escalated the rhetoric by suggesting without evidence that these figures might be linked to foreign-backed plots, even leveling baseless accusations against Türkiye. Calls to suspend constitutional protections The campaign has taken an alarming turn, with JFeed, an Israeli-affiliated news outlet, suggesting that certain conservative figures should be placed in internment camps for allegedly inciting military disobedience. The outlet argued that the First Amendment’s free speech protections should not apply to such individuals—a position that has ignited renewed debate over the limits of political discourse in the United States. Allegations regarding Charlie Kirk Allegations surrounding Charlie Kirk, a conservative "America First" advocate who was assassinated in the US last September, also pointed to Israel. It was suggested that Kirk may have been killed because of his recent publications criticizing the influence of Zionist forces on Washington. Joe Kent's recent podcast appearance, in which he recounted a meeting with Kirk at the White House where Kirk asked him to "prevent the US from being drawn into a war with Iran," further strengthened the claims that "Israel was behind the assassination." Pay-for-play allegations backfire Efforts to discredit America First voices have encountered pushback. When Loomer accused Turkish interests of funding podcasters critical of Israel, media figure Elijah Schaffer responded forcefully: “Name them. Show proof. Because I have been offered money many times to support Jewish and Israeli interests. I was even offered money to lie for the Israeli military. I have documented these incidents.” His testimony echoes previous reports in the American press about organized efforts to pay social media influencers thousands of dollars per post to promote pro-Israel narratives. A shifting political landscape The lobby’s panic reflects broader demographic trends. An NBC News poll conducted in March revealed that 63 percent of American voters under 35 hold unfavorable views of Israel—a dramatic shift that underscores the growing generational divide on Middle East policy. Adding to the unease, Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter warned this week that rising settler violence in the West Bank is costing Tel Aviv allies. “We are losing our friends. In Washington, there are people who are definitely distancing themselves from Israel because of these events,” Leiter said in an interview. Türkiye’s principled position Amid these tensions, Türkiye has remained steadfast in its defense of Palestinian rights and its opposition to foreign interference in US domestic politics. Ankara has consistently called for transparency regarding foreign lobbying efforts and has highlighted the importance of allowing American voters to form their own opinions free from external influence. Turkish officials maintain that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through adherence to international law and respect for the rights of all peoples—principles that guide Türkiye’s approach to the region.