Introduction: A Historic Shift in US-Israel Relations
US support for Israel has long been a bedrock of American foreign policy. However, in recent years, that support is showing unprecedented signs of erosion. According to a recent Gallup poll, American sympathies for Israel have dropped to their lowest point in 25 years. The shift is particularly stark among Democrats, younger generations, and non-white communities. What is causing this dramatic change in US support for Israel?
1. The Gaza War and Global Outrage
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, is a key factor driving disillusionment. Graphic images and real-time reports from the warzone have flooded social media, making the humanitarian toll unavoidable. President Biden’s firm support for Israel, despite rising civilian deaths, has alienated a significant portion of his base.
2. Generational and Demographic Shifts
Younger Americans, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are far less supportive of Israel than previous generations. A Pew Research survey confirms a widening generational divide, with younger voters prioritizing human rights over traditional alliances. This shift reflects broader changes in values, activism, and access to alternative media narratives.
3. Political Polarization
Support for Israel has become increasingly partisan in the United States. Republicans, influenced by Trump’s alignment with Netanyahu, continue to back Israel strongly. Democrats, however, are more divided. The progressive wing of the party has been vocally critical of Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank, leading to a fractured stance on Capitol Hill.
4. Activism and the Power of Social Media
Movements like “Free Palestine” and #CeasefireNow have gained immense traction online. Influencers, academics, and even celebrities have spoken out against Israeli military actions. This activism is influencing how Americans, especially the youth, perceive the Israel-Palestine conflict.
5. Questioning Strategic Value
As the US recalibrates its global priorities—particularly in relation to China and the Indo-Pacific—some policymakers question whether unconditional support for Israel still aligns with American strategic interests. There’s also growing scrutiny over the billions in military aid sent annually to Israel.
A fraying special relationship?
Currently, these shifts in public opinion haven’t yet prompted a major change in US foreign policy. Whilst some ordinary US voters are turning away from Israel, on Capitol Hill elected politicians from both parties are still mostly keen to talk up the importance of a strong alliance with Israel.
Some think that a sustained, long-term shift in public opinion might eventually lead to reduced real-world support for the country – with weaker diplomatic ties and reduced military aid. This issue is felt particularly sharply by some inside Israel. Several months before 7 October, the former Israeli general and head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, Tamir Hayman, warned of cracks forming between his country and the United States, in part because of what he described as the slow movement of American Jews away from Zionism.
Israel’s political shift in favour of the national-religious right has played a key part in this. From early 2023, Israel was gripped by an unprecedented wave of protests among Jewish Israelis against Netanyahu’s judicial reforms, with many arguing he was moving the country towards theocracy – a claim he always rejected. Some in the US who had always felt a deep sense of connection with Israel were watching with growing concern.
Those who see a fraying relationship are paying particularly close attention to the views of younger Americans – a group that has shown the most marked shift in opinion since 7 October. As the ‘TikTok generation’, many young Americans get their news about the war from social media and the high civilian death toll from Israel’s offensive in Gaza appears to have driven the declining support among young Democrats and liberals in America. Last year, 33 percent of Americans under 30 said their sympathies lie entirely or mostly with the Palestinian people, versus 14 percent who said the same about Israelis, according to a Pew Research poll published last month. Older Americans were more likely to sympathise with the Israelis.
Karin Von Hippel, chair of the Arden Defence and Security Practice and a former official in the US State Department, agrees there is a demographic divide among Americans on the topic of Israel – one that even extends to Congress.
“Younger Congress men and women are less knee jerk, reactively supporting Israel,” she says. “And I think younger Americans, including Jewish Americans, are less supportive of Israel than their parents were.”
Conclusion: A New Era of Accountability?
The decline in US support for Israel marks a turning point in international diplomacy. With domestic political pressure mounting and a more informed, socially conscious public demanding change, future US administrations may be forced to reassess this historically “unshakable” alliance. Whether this leads to a fundamental policy shift or a mere recalibration remains to be seen.
Want to explore more about Biden’s policy on the Gaza crisis? Read this detailed breakdown here.
