WASHINGTON: A new national survey has indicated a significant decline in favourable views of Israel among citizens of the United States, with shifting attitudes largely driven by growing dissatisfaction among Democratic and independent voters, media reports said.
The poll, conducted by NBC News, comes amid increasing political divisions over the ongoing Israel–Hamas war in Gaza Strip.
Declining favourable views
According to the survey carried out between February 27 and March 2, only 32% of Americans now hold a positive view of Israel, while 39% express a negative opinion.
This marks a notable shift from three years ago, when 47% viewed Israel favourably compared to 34% negatively.
Political divide widens
The decline in support appears most pronounced among Democrats and independent voters.
Among Democrats, favourable views have dropped sharply from 34% in 2023 to 13%, while negative opinions surged to 57%.
Independents also showed a similar trend, with positive views falling to 21% and negative views rising to 48%.
In contrast, Republicans remain largely supportive, with 54% expressing favourable views, down slightly from 63%, and 18% holding negative opinions.
Sympathy gap narrows
The survey also found that Americans are now nearly evenly divided in their sympathies between Israelis and Palestinians.
Currently, 40% say they sympathise more with Israel, while 39% favour Palestinians, reflecting a sharp change from 2013 when support for Israel stood at 45% compared to 13% for Palestinians.
Among Democrats, sympathy has shifted significantly, with 67% now favouring Palestinians and 17% supporting Israel.
Independents also lean towards Palestinians by 37% to 27%, while Republicans continue to strongly back Israel.
Generational shift and political impact
The findings highlight a growing generational divide, with younger Americans showing a greater decline in support for Israel compared to older groups.
The issue has become increasingly contentious within US politics and is expected to play a key role in upcoming Democratic Party primary contests.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in more than 72,000 deaths, according to health authorities in the Palestinian territory.