European public support for 'Israel' reaches record-low: YouGov
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Public support for "Israel" has plummeted to record lows across Western Europe and the US, according to recent polls, with increasing sympathy for Palestine.
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Protesters wave Palestinian flags outside the Israeli embassy during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, in Athens, Greece, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP)
Public support and sympathy for "Israel" in Western Europe has reached its lowest level since YouGov began recording such data, as the pollster reported that in six countries, fewer than one-fifth of respondents now view the entity favorably.
The survey revealed that net favorability toward "Israel" in Germany (-44), France (-48), and Denmark (-54) had dropped to its lowest level since polling on the issue began in 2016, while in Italy (-52) and Spain (-55), it had also reached its lowest or joint lowest point, though data for these countries was only available from 2021. In the UK, net favourability toward "Israel" stood at -46, slightly above the record low of -49 recorded late last year.
Similarly, across all six surveyed countries, only a small minority ranging from 6% in Italy to 16% in France, agreed with the statement that "Israel" was "right to send troops into Gaza and has generally responded in a proportionate way to the Hamas attacks," marking a decline compared to an earlier poll conducted last October, while in the UK, the figure stood at 12%.
On the other hand, between 29% of respondents in Italy and 40% in Germany agreed with the view that "Israel" was "right to send troops into Gaza, but has gone too far and caused too many civilian casualties," while the UK figure stood at 38%.
Meanwhile,12% in Germany, 24% in Italy, and 15% in the UK believed that "Israel" should not have launched military action in Gaza at all.
The survey revealed that favorable opinions of "Israel" were held by just 13% to 21% of respondents across the polled nations, while unfavorable views dominated at 63% to 70%.
Eurotrack reports similar findings
The Eurotrack survey revealed a declining perception among western Europeans regarding the justification of "Israel's" ongoing war on Gaza, with only approximately a quarter of respondents in France, Germany, and Denmark (24%-25%) still viewing them as justified, while the figures dropped to 18% in Britain and just 9% in Italy.
The survey also found that support for the Al Aqsa Flood Operation remains minimal across all countries, with only 5% to 9% of respondents considering it justified, though this figure has seen slight increases in the UK (rising from 5% to 6%) and Italy (climbing from 6% to 8%).
The survey further revealed a decline in those expressing alignment with "Israel", as only 7% to 18% of respondents across the six nations reported sympathizing more with the Israeli side, marking the lowest or equal-lowest level recorded in five of these countries since the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation.
In contrast, a significantly higher proportion of respondents, ranging from 18% to 33% across the six countries, expressed greater sympathy for the Palestinian side, with these figures showing an increase in all nations since 2023. Germany stood as the sole exception where support levels were nearly equal, as 17% favored "Israel" compared to 18% who sided with Palestine.
Most believe peace remains distant
The survey results suggest that most Western Europeans view lasting peace in the Middle East as unlikely to be achieved anytime soon, with French respondents showing the highest level of optimism, as only 29% believed such peace might be possible within the next decade.
The survey showed particularly low optimism among Danes, with only about 15% believing in the possibility of lasting peace, while across all six nations polled, confidence in achieving sustainable peace had declined by four to ten percentage points since late 2023.
This trend extends beyond Europe, as April polling by the Pew Research Center revealed a growing negative shift in American perceptions of "Israel" over the past three years, with unfavorable opinions rising from 42% in March 2022 to 53% of US adults currently holding an unfavorable view.
A recent Data for Progress survey indicated that 51% of American voters oppose "Israel's" ground invasion into Gaza and the relocation of Palestinians, while an equal percentage believe US President Donald Trump should "demand that Israel agree to a ceasefire," compared to 31% who think he should "support Israel's military operation."
