Likely 2028 presidential candidate Rahm Emanuel told a Tel Aviv audience that he understands their “cynicism” and “anger” as Democrats struggle with messaging over Israel.“I understand why even if you oppose the Netanyahu government, you’re so prone to dismiss criticism from the outside world,” Emanuel said at Tel Aviv University’s Center for the Study of the United States, where he was invited to speak.Though he spoke from Israel, Emanuel’s speech seemed directed toward an American audience. The Democratic stalwart is road testing a 2028 presidential campaign in which he has sought to position himself as a policy wonk. It remains to be seen whether his historically warm ties with Israel become a political liability in the Democratic Party.
Emanuel posted on X ahead of his remarks that he was not in Israel to “flatter anyone,” but rather because “real friends tell each other hard truths.”
While fighting back tears, Emanuel opened his speech by describing his visit to his uncle …