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Support for 'Israel' eroding in US, especially among younger Americans

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
15 Mar 2024 03:49
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Four separate surveys conducted between 2011 and 2024 show "Israel" is becoming unfavorable among the American public and is losing the support it once had.

With the Capitol in the background, demonstrators rally during the March on Washington in support of Gaza demanding an end to the Israeli war on the Strip on January 13, 2024. (AP)

Since day one of the war on Gaza, the Israeli occupation entity has received the full backing of US President Joe Biden's administration, including financial, military, intelligence, and political support.

This protective umbrella continued despite the war turning into a genocide, with over 31,000 Palestinians killed - over 72% of whom are children and women - and is now approaching its six-month mark.

But according to polls, this did not come without a price, most importantly on how the US public views "Israel", which has taken a downward trajectory over the years, and more so among the younger generations.

In a series of surveys conducted between 2012 and January 2024, a trend of declining and polarized support of "Israel" among Americans with various political affiliations, ages, and ethnicities can be witnessed.

The outcomes underscored the polarizing support for the occupation entity in the US, which, according to the Israeli think tank Institute for National Security Studies INSS, should be a worrisome sign for "Israel" and its relationship with the United States.

Eroding 'political home'

A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center published on December 8, 2023, showed that young Americans are holding a more negative view of the Israeli occupation entity and its role in the war.

The poll results show that a majority of both Republicans and Republican-leaning individuals (73%) and Democrats and Democrat-leaning individuals (62%) believe that Hamas is largely responsible for the current war. However, upon being asked about the role of the Israeli government, there is a significant difference between the two parties.

Among Republicans and Republican-leaning respondents, 21% believe that the Israeli government is responsible for the war, while 27% believe it bears no responsibility. In contrast, 50% of Democrats and Democrat-leaning respondents believe that the Israeli government is responsible, and only 6% believe it isn't.

Additionally, there is a generational difference in opinion within both parties. Young adults (ages 18-29) are less likely than older respondents to believe that Hamas bears the majority of the responsibility for the war. Furthermore, 38% of adults under 35 feel that "Israel" has "gone too far" in its response to the al-Aqsa Flood operation, compared to 27% of those aged 35 to 49, 23% of those aged 50 to 64, and 16% of those aged 65 and older.

This statement highlights a shift in the Democratic Party's support for "Israel" over the past decade. While historically, the party has been a strong supporter of the entity and has been the "political home for most American Jews," there has been a decline in this support.

Declining support among younger Americans

Between 2011 and 2014, a majority of Democrats sympathized more with "Israel" than with the Palestinians, according to Gallup polls published in March 2023.

However, between 2019 and 2023, less than half of the party voters expressed more sympathy for "Israel" than for the Palestinians. This change is attributed to a rise in support for the Palestinian cause among young Democrats, known as "millennial support." Older Democrats are still more favorable to "Israel," but the generational divide within the party is evident.

This shift is not unique to the Democratic Party. Even among younger Republicans and Independents, sympathy for "Israel" has declined compared to their older counterparts, indicating a broader trend across party lines.

A poll by CNN ORC on May 24–26, 2011, and November 16–18, 2012 showed a noticeable shift in attitudes toward the "Middle East conflict" and "Israel’s" military attacks against the Palestinian Resistance Hamas in Gaza, INSS said.

The 2012 survey was conducted during an Israeli aggression on Gaza, dubbed "Operation Pillar of Defense" by the entity.

During this period, support for "Israel" decreased from 67% in 2011 to 59% in 2012, while sympathy for Palestinians also declined from 16% to 13%. The increase in respondents expressing no opinion, from 3% to 13%, indicates a rise in uncertainty or a neutral stance among the polled group.

The results are consistent with those of the Gallup survey conducted between November 1 and November 21, 2023.

The Gallup survey results indicate that approximately half of the surveyed population in the United States approve of "Israel's" military attacks on Gaza, while 45% disapprove.

Meanwhile, there are notable differences across various demographic groups:

Republicans show strong support, with 71% endorsing "Israel's" actions, compared to 63% of Democrats who tend to disapprove. Among age groups, individuals aged 55 and above are more likely (63%) to endorse the entity's actions, while those under 35 tend to disapprove (67%).

Men are more likely to approve (59%) "Israel's" attacks compared to women, of whom a slim majority (52%) disapprove. White adults are more likely to approve (61%), while individuals from minority groups tend to disapprove (64%).

Democrats, young adults, individuals from minority backgrounds, and women are more inclined to think that the United States is not offering sufficient humanitarian aid to Palestinians. They also tend to believe that the level of humanitarian aid provided to Palestinians by the United States is inadequate when compared to the military assistance provided to "Israel."

Ally or not

The latest survey to be discussed is a collaborative study by YouGov and the Economist, conducted from January 21 to January 23, 2024.

The survey results reflect a consistent pattern seen in other polls regarding attitudes toward "Israel." They indicate that a majority of Republicans (75%), Independents (62%), and Democrats (70%) view "Israel" favorably, either as an ally or friendly entity. This positive view is slightly higher than the sample mean of 69%.

In contrast, a smaller percentage of respondents from each group (13% Rep., 13% Dem., and 16% Ind.) view "Israel" unfavorably, as an enemy or unfriendly entity, which is slightly lower than the sample mean of 14%.

Regarding the survey results on the Israeli government's response to the October 7 operation, the data shows that despite the majority of Democrats viewing "Israel" favorably, a significant percentage of Democrats (47%) believed the response was "too harsh." This was also the opinion of Independents (31%), and Republicans (12%), as compared to the 30% sample mean.

Conversely, 28% of Democrats, 26% of Independents, and 34% of Republicans believed the response was "about right," while 32% of Republicans, 15% of Independents, and 6% of Democrats believed it was "not harsh enough."

The 2024 poll by YouGov and the Economist additionally broke out the numbers by ethnicity.

It highlighted a divide in opinions regarding "Israel's" status among different racial groups in the United States. While 71% of white respondents view "Israel" favorably, 56% of black respondents and 64% of Hispanic respondents share the same view.

With eyes on the polls

It also mentions President Biden's approach to the situation. He supports "Israel" in its war, a stance that aligns with traditional US support for its ally. However, he also faces challenges in managing the relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu's right-wing government, which is unpopular among liberal and democratic circles in the US.

The INSS said in its report: "As a self-identified Zionist, President Biden balances internal opposition within the Democratic Party toward American policy and sympathy toward the Palestinians. Concerns over the policies of the far-right Israeli government have led to pressure from Americans for Israel to uphold international law and provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza."

The US president's strategy, according to the think tank, is to focus both on "upholding American interests as 'the guardian' of the rules-based international order," and pressing the occupation entity to oblige to international laws while he keeps an eye on the polls.

The support from President Biden for "Israel" in its war on Gaza has led to discontent among some members of his party. These members are calling for a ceasefire - unlike Biden's administration - which indicates a desire for a more balanced approach or a stronger stance against "Israel's" actions.

Meanwhile, Arab Americans, who are a significant voting group for Democrats in Michigan, have expressed strong dissatisfaction with Biden's support for the occupation, to the point of even proposing to boycott the 2024 elections as a form of protest.

Although the Biden administration has offered unprecedented support for "Israel's" military operations, the influence of public opinion polls, especially those indicating Democratic Party support during an election year, is affecting policy choices and the future of the relations between the two historic allies, INSS concluded.