Public Opinion on Israel Shows Dramatic Shift, Particularly Among Democrats

Americans’ views of Israel have drastically declined in recent years, with the shift most pronounced among Democrats and independents, according to a new NBC News poll conducted in late February and early March.

The survey reveals that just 32% of Americans now view Israel positively, while 39% hold negative opinions of the Jewish state. This marks a significant reversal from three years ago when Americans viewed Israel favorably by a 47%-34% margin.

The most dramatic change has occurred among Democratic voters. In 2023, Democrats were nearly evenly split on Israel, with 34% viewing the country positively and 35% negatively. Today, only 13% of Democrats hold positive views of Israel, while 57% see it negatively—a 44-point negative swing in less than two years.

Independent voters have followed a similar pattern, shifting from a positive view of Israel (40%-22%) to predominantly negative perceptions (21%-48%).

By contrast, Republican opinions on Israel have remained relatively stable. While there has been a slight decline, Republicans still view Israel positively by a substantial margin—54% positive versus 18% negative, compared to 63%-12% in 2023.

The poll, which coincided with the beginning of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, also shows a fundamental shift in Americans’ sympathies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A decade ago, Americans sympathized with Israel over Palestinians by a decisive 45%-13% margin. Today, the nation is essentially divided, with 40% more sympathetic to Israel and 39% more sympathetic to Palestinians.

Again, the change is most dramatic among Democrats, who have completely reversed their position. In 2013, Democrats sympathized more with Israel by a 34%-18% margin. Now, they side overwhelmingly with Palestinians by 67%-17%.

Independents have similarly shifted from favoring Israel (37%-10% in 2013) to supporting Palestinians (37%-27% currently).

Republicans, however, have maintained their strong pro-Israel stance, with 69% expressing sympathy for Israel versus just 13% for Palestinians—numbers nearly unchanged from a decade ago.

The poll also highlights a significant generational divide, with younger Americans showing a steeper decline in their positive perceptions of and sympathies for Israel compared to older generations.

These shifting attitudes come against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began with Hamas’s October 2023 attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and led to 251 hostages being taken. Israel’s military response in Gaza has resulted in more than 72,000 Palestinian deaths over the past two and a half years, according to health officials in the Palestinian territory.

The Israel-Gaza conflict has sparked intense debates within the Democratic Party, creating divisions that are now playing out in the party’s 2026 primary elections. Several progressive candidates have made criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza a central issue in their platforms, while more moderate Democrats have attempted to balance support for Israel with concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Political analysts suggest these shifting opinions could significantly impact U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East in coming years, particularly if the trend continues. The poll indicates that what was once a rare area of bipartisan consensus in American politics has evolved into yet another polarizing issue along partisan and generational lines.