For decades, supporting Israel was one of those rare things Democrats and Republicans could agree on. That bipartisan consensus is looking a lot shakier these days.
A new poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, released Tuesday, shows that U.S. support for Israel has eroded significantly, with Democrats growing increasingly critical and even younger Republicans showing signs of unease. The survey of 3,040 U.S. adults, conducted June 11-17, paints a picture of a country deeply divided over the war in Gaza.
About one-third of U.S. adults — including roughly half of Democrats — now believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians. Israel and the U.S. government have strongly denied that accusation, which some human rights groups have leveled. About 2 in 10 Americans said Israel has not committed genocide, while roughly half said they didn't know enough to say.
The poll also surveyed 1,022 Jewish adults separately. Among them, about 30% said Israel has committed genocide, while 49% said it has not.
Democrats Are Moving Away from Israel
The shift among Democrats is striking. About 58% of Democrats now say the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, up from 45% in January 2024. Meanwhile, 62% say the U.S. is not supportive enough of Palestinians, up from 49%.
Republicans remain more supportive of Israel overall, but the party's younger wing is less unified. Only 13% of Republicans called Israel's actions genocide, but that number rises to about 2 in 10 among Republicans under 45. About 60% of Republicans said U.S. support for Israel is about right.
Netanyahu and Mamdani: Two Faces of the Divide
The poll also measured views on key political figures. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is deeply unpopular: only 20% of U.S. adults view him favorably, while 38% view him unfavorably. Among Jewish adults, about 6 in 10 viewed him unfavorably.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, an outspoken critic of Israel, drew more mixed reactions. About 27% of U.S. adults viewed him favorably, 28% unfavorably, and 44% said they didn't know enough to have an opinion.
Despite the political heat, foreign policy isn't the top concern for most Americans. Only about one-third of U.S. adults called Israel an extremely or very important issue to them personally. That suggests that while the debate over Gaza is loud, it still competes with pocketbook issues like inflation and jobs as the midterms approach.
