Although much has been made of the looming presence of Israel in both attacks on Hagel’s qualifications and the nomination hearing itself, and it’s certainly the case that far-right Jewish groups and Christian Zionist organizations have fought hard against him, there are other factors at play in the Republican opposition. This includes the fact that he threatens long-held conservative ideas about foreign policy, his ideas about cutting the defense budget, and a general sense that he’s no longer one of their own