American support for Israel has in recent years seen the steepest(最陡峭的，最急剧的) sustained(持续的，持久的) drop since pollsters began keeping track(追踪记录，掌握情况). Even so, in the past two weeks the outlook(前景，展望) for pro-Israel groups has shifted from grim to funereal(丧葬的，悲哀的). First came the announcement, on June 14th, of a deal between America and Iran that neither dismantles(拆除， dismantle) Tehran’s nuclear programme nor, they argue, adequately protects Israel.
近年来，美国对以色列的支持出现了民调机构开始追踪以来最严重且持续的下降。即便如此，在过去两周里，亲以色列团体的前景已从严峻转为丧气。首先是6月14日宣布的美伊协议，该协议既未拆除德黑兰的核计划，他们辩称，也未充分保护以色列。
Four days later J.D. Vance, the vice-president, offered a sharp rebuke(指责，斥责) to the deal’s detractors(批评者，贬低者). “Anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States”, Mr Vance snarled(咆哮，吼叫) from the White House podium, “needs to wake up and smell the reality(清醒过来，认清现实) of the situation in that country.” Another blow came on June 23rd, when Democrats deeply critical of Israel swept(席卷，大获全胜) primary elections in New York. The city is home to more Jews than any other outside of Israel.
四天后，副总统J.D.万斯对协议的批评者予以严厉斥责。“任何以色列人如果认为他们最大的问题是美国总统”，万斯先生在白宫讲台上咆哮道，“需要清醒过来，认清那个国家的现实。”另一记重击发生在6月23日，当时对以色列持严厉批评态度的民主党人在纽约初选中大获全胜。纽约市是除以色列以外犹太人最多的城市。
Faced with this unqualified disaster(彻头彻尾的灾难), the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the most powerful pro-Israel lobbying group, has been conspicuously(明显地，引人注目地) polite. In a seven-point memo(备忘录) published the same day that Mr Vance made his comments, AIPAC said the initial agreement raised “significant questions” and urged Congress to ensure any final deal would “permanently and verifiably end the regime’s nuclear program”. That marks a sharp contrast(鲜明对比) to the nearly $40m the group spent trying to torpedo(破坏，使失败) Barack Obama’s deal with Iran more than a decade ago—a deal that arguably(可以说，按理说) did more for Israel than this one. AIPAC’s positions have not changed. But the once mighty lobby is struggling to adapt to a lonely new era.
面对这场毫无保留的灾难，美国以色列公共事务委员会（AIPAC）——最强大的亲以色列游说团体——却表现得异常客气。在万斯发表评论的同一天发布的一份七点备忘录中，AIPAC表示初步协议引发了“重大问题”，并敦促国会确保任何最终协议都将“永久且可验证地终止该政权的核计划”。这与该组织十多年前花费近4000万美元试图扼杀巴拉克·奥巴马与伊朗达成的协议形成鲜明对比——当时那项协议可以说比这一项对以色列更有利。AIPAC的立场没有改变。但这个曾经强大的游说团体正在努力适应一个孤独的新时代。
