New Poll Shows Sharp Drop in U.S. Support for Israel Among Democrats

A new NBC News poll released Monday shows a sharp decline in American public support for Israel, driven largely by changing views among Democrats, independents, and younger voters. According to the survey, more registered voters now view Israel negatively than positively, with 32% expressing a positive view compared with 49% who view the country negatively.

The shift reflects a dramatic change in attitudes inside the Democratic Party and is already shaping internal political debates and primary elections. Republican pollster Bill McInturff, whose firm helped conduct the survey, said the shift marks a historic break from decades of bipartisan support for Israel. “This is unrecognizable in terms of where America was, and the Democratic Party was, for a 20-, 30-year history,” he said.

The poll also shows a sharp partisan divide over the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Overall, 40% of voters say they sympathize more with Israelis, while 39% say they sympathize more with Palestinians. But the numbers shift dramatically by party. Among Democrats, just 17% say they sympathize more with Israelis, compared with 67% who side with Palestinians. Among Republicans, the pattern is nearly reversed, with 69% siding with Israelis and 13% with Palestinians.

Beyond partisan divides, the survey shows that Israel’s favorability ratings have fallen significantly since 2023. Overall positive views dropped from 47% in 2023 to 32% in the latest poll. Among Democrats, positive views fell from 34% to just 13%, while among independents they dropped from 40% to 21%.

Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt said the shift appears closely tied to the aftermath of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel and the Israeli military campaign that followed in Gaza. “Israel may have had major military success in its war against Hamas, but its actions have badly damaged its standing among the American people,” Horwitt said.

The generational divide is even more pronounced. Among voters aged 18 to 34, negative views of Israel rose sharply in the latest survey. In 2023, 26% of young voters viewed Israel positively while 37% viewed it negatively. In the new poll, just 13% hold a positive view while 63% view Israel negatively.

These shifting attitudes are already influencing Democratic primaries across the country. Progressive candidates have increasingly criticized Israeli policy and called for restrictions on U.S. military aid, while pro-Israel organizations have spent millions of dollars backing candidates who support the U.S.–Israel alliance.

At the same time, some Democratic politicians have pushed back strongly against the growing criticism of Israel within their party. Rep. Wesley Bell of Missouri, who defeated progressive Rep. Cori Bush in a 2024 Democratic primary with support from pro-Israel groups, said standing with Israel remains a moral imperative. “I’m proud to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters and support Israel, particularly in a time that has been very tumultuous,” Bell said.

Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania also rejected the political significance of the polling data, writing on social media that he continues to support Israel regardless of shifting public opinion. “I don’t follow the polls. As a Democrat, I unapologetically stand on the side of moral clarity and our ally Israel.”

The NBC News poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters between Feb. 27 and March 3 using a combination of telephone interviews and online responses.