Most Americans now view Israel negatively, have little confidence in Netanyahu – poll

Growing hostility from younger Americans and Democrats fuels major realignment on Israel, with nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they view the Jewish state negatively.

By World Israel News Staff

Americans are becoming increasingly hostile toward the State of Israel, a new poll shows, with nearly two-thirds of Americans holding an unfavorable view of the Jewish state.

On Tuesday, Pew Research Center published the results of a survey conducted online and via telephone among 3,507 American adults from March 23 to 29.

The poll found that 60% of American adults now hold an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 53% a year ago and 42% in 2022, while 59% say they have little or no confidence in Netanyahu to do the right thing in world affairs, up from 52% last year.

The findings suggest that the long-running erosion in Israel’s standing with the American public has not reversed in 2026.

Pew’s trend data shows unfavorable views of Israel rising from 42% in spring 2022 to 60% now, while confidence in Netanyahu has worsened markedly since 2023.

Partisan divides remain stark, but the survey indicates growing strain for Israel even on the right, driven by disapproval among younger Republicans.

Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 80% now view Israel unfavorably, up from 69% last year.

Republicans and Republican leaners still tilt more positive overall, with 58% viewing Israel favorably versus 41% unfavorably, yet younger Republicans are moving in the opposite direction: 57% of Republicans ages 18 to 49 now hold an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 50% a year earlier.

Netanyahu’s numbers are also weakening across the political spectrum. Pew found that 76% of Democrats lack confidence in him, while Republicans are now nearly split, with 45% expressing confidence and 44% saying they have little or no confidence. Age gaps are especially pronounced on the right: Republicans 50 and older are about twice as likely as those under 50 to express confidence in Netanyahu, 58% to 30%.

The survey also highlights deep differences by religion. American Jews and white evangelical Protestants remain among the most supportive groups, with 64% and 65%, respectively, holding positive views of Israel.

At the other end, only 4% of Muslim Americans say they view Israel favorably.

On Netanyahu, 56% of American Jews say they have little or no confidence in him, while 91% of Muslim Americans say the same.

Pew found that skepticism extends beyond Israel and Netanyahu to the broader US-Israel relationship under President Donald Trump.

A 55% majority of Americans said they lack confidence in Trump to make good decisions on US-Israel ties, though respondents were somewhat more confident in him on that issue than on US policy toward Iran.

The poll also found that 53% of Americans say the Israel-Hamas conflict is personally important to them, unchanged from last year, but still far below the 77% who say the same about US military action against Iran.