American Support for Israel Hits Historic Low

A new national poll indicates that American public opinion toward Israel has shifted, with more voters now holding negative views than positive ones.

The survey, conducted by NBC News between February 27 and March 3 among 1,000 registered voters, found that 39% view Israel negatively, compared to 32% who view it positively. The results mark a significant change from November 2023, when 47% of respondents expressed positive views and 24% negative.

The findings point to a broader erosion of support for Israel in recent years, with declines seen across the political spectrum. However, attitudes remain sharply divided along partisan lines.

Among Democrats, negative views dominate. The poll found that 57% of Democratic voters view Israel negatively, while only 13% hold a positive view, down from 34% who viewed Israel positively in 2023.

Independents also lean negative, with 48% expressing unfavorable views compared to 21% who view Israel positively.

Republicans remain the most supportive group, though even there, backing has declined. Positive views among Republican voters fell from 63% in 2023 to 54% in the latest survey.

The poll was conducted at the outset of the current war with Iran, a factor that may be influencing public attitudes. The conflict has also become a point of debate in U.S. politics, particularly in Democratic primaries, where candidates have increasingly criticized Israel and distanced themselves from pro-Israel lobbying groups.

On the question of sympathy, the public appears nearly evenly split. The poll found that 40% of voters say they sympathize more with Israelis, while 39% say they sympathize more with Palestinians, within the survey’s margin of error.

The results add to a growing body of polling suggesting that American views on Israel are becoming more divided and, overall, less favorable than in previous years.