A growing number of Americans now view Israel unfavorably, with more than half expressing distrust in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.
The poll, conducted from March 24 to 30 among 3,605 U.S. adults, found that 53% of Americans now have an unfavorable opinion of Israel, a sharp rise from 42% in 2022. The shift crosses political and generational lines.
Among Republicans, negative views of Israel rose to 37%, up from 27% two years ago. Among Democrats, unfavorable sentiment surged to 69%, compared to 53% in 2022. Younger Americans, regardless of party affiliation, are particularly critical: 71% of Democrats under 50 and 50% of Republicans under 50 now view Israel unfavorably.
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The survey also showed a widening trust gap when it comes to Netanyahu. Over half (52%) of respondents said they have little or no confidence in him to handle global affairs appropriately, compared to 32% who expressed confidence. Among Democrats, trust in Netanyahu is especially low — just 15% said they believe he will do the right thing, compared to 51% of Republicans.
Even among American Jews, views on Netanyahu are divided: 53% said they lack confidence in him, while 45% expressed support. White evangelical Protestants were the only U.S. religious group where a majority expressed confidence in the Israeli leader.
The poll also explored attitudes toward former President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to have the U.S. take control of the Gaza Strip. A strong majority — 62% — opposed the idea, including 49% who said they “strongly oppose” it. Only 15% supported the proposal, which Trump floated again during a recent meeting with Netanyahu.
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Despite the low support, nearly half of Americans (46%) believe Trump is likely to pursue the policy if re-elected. Within the Republican Party, 44% oppose the idea, while 27% support it.
Public interest in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict appears to be waning. Just 54% of Americans said the war is personally important to them, down from 65% in January. However, the issue remains deeply significant to U.S. Jews, with 93% calling it important and 74% labeling it “very important.”
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The Pew findings align with a February Gallup poll that also documented declining favorability toward Israel, reflecting broader shifts in public sentiment following the events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Gaza conflict.
Source: With inputs from agencies