Israel is steadily losing support among younger Americans, a shift that could have long-term political consequences for one of its most important alliances, a new analysis warns.
The report by Israeli think tank Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) highlights a widening generational divide in US attitudes towards Israel.
The report cited polling data by American think tank Pew Research Center from late March published earlier in April showing that 60 percent of American adults hold a negative or very negative view of Israel, up from 53 percent the previous year and 42 percent in 2022.
Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza started in October 2023.
The latest statistics, published for the first time through a collaboration between INSS and the Washington-based Pew, found that 75 percent of young American adults aged 18 to 29 view Israel negatively. Among those aged 30 to 49, the figure stands at 67 percent.
The Pew survey also indicates that 80 percent of Democrats have a somewhat or very unfavourable view of Israel, compared with 41 percent of Republicans.
Among younger voters aligned with the Democratic Party, negative views are even more pronounced: 85 percent of those aged 18 to 29 and 83 percent of those aged 30 to 49 express unfavourable opinions of Israel.
According to the INSS, the decline in Israel’s popularity in the US extends across multiple religious groups.
Catholics, Protestants and white evangelical Christians under the age of 50 all report unfavourable views of Israel. The country is especially unpopular among Catholics, with 74 percent of those under 50 expressing negative opinions.
Even among white evangelicals, an influential group within US President Donald Trump’s political base, support appears to be weakening. Among those under 50, 50 percent view Israel negatively, compared to 47 percent who hold a favourable view.
INSS noted that white evangelicals have traditionally been the most consistently pro-Israel group outside the Jewish community.
The report also highlighted that while Catholics have not historically been a central base of support for Israel, their political significance is increasing due in part to figures such as US Vice President JD Vance and other conservative Catholic voices within the emerging American right.
In its conclusion, the INSS warned that these trends represent a serious challenge to a key pillar of Israel’s national security. Combined with other recent surveys, the findings suggested that no young demographic in the general US population currently holds a clearly positive view of Israel.
Even among older age groups, unfavourable perceptions are becoming more entrenched. If this trajectory continues, INSS argued, Israel could face a situation in which it no longer has a stable base of support in either major American political party.
The report further emphasised that shifts within the American Jewish community compound this trend. According to INSS, the organised Jewish community, long considered a core pillar of support for Israel, is experiencing declining political influence, alongside increasing dissatisfaction among American Jews with Israeli government policy. This is contributing to more critical views of Israel, particularly among younger Jews.
