American Jewish Opinion Toward Israel
(2012 - Present)
Note: We are presenting raw data. When available, we provide some or all of the crosstabs (i.e., breakdowns by various categories such as party ID). To analyze the data, we encourage users to read the entire study and the methodology used. Results and reliability can be affected by such things as sample size, question wording, and question order. Responses may also be influenced by context and timing; for example, if the survey is conducted during a war.
See also: AJC Surveys of American Jewish Opinion
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling the war between Israel and Hamas? (Jewish Electorate Institute, November 5-9, 2023)
| 2023 | |
| Approve | 74% |
| Disapprove | 26% |
Has President Biden’s handling of the war between Israel and Hamas made you feel more positive or more negative toward Biden, or has his handling of the war made no difference in how you feel about Biden? (Jewish Electorate Institute, November 5-9, 2023)
| 2023 | |
| More positive | 43% |
| More negative | 24% |
| No difference | 33% |
Do you think President Biden has supported Israel too much, too little, or the right amount in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7th attack on Israel and in the current war between Israel and Hamas? (Jewish Electorate Institute, November 5-9, 2023)
| 2023 | |
| Too much | 22% |
| Too little | 23% |
| Right amount | 55% |
How emotionally attached are you to Israel? (Jewish Electorate Institute, November 5-9, 2023)
| 2022 | 2023 | |
| Attached | 71% | 82% |
| Not attached | 29% | 18% |
Below are some actions that the United States government has taken. For each one, please indicate whether you support or oppose this action? [Total support] (Jewish Electorate Institute, November 5-9, 2023)
| 2023 | |
| Sending two U.S. aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean Sea to deter others from attacking Israel | 85% |
| President Biden visiting Israel to address the Israeli people after the October 7th attack and meeting with Israel’s political and military leaders | 84% |
| Senior American officials attending Israeli war cabinet meetings to discuss war strategy and offer counsel | 80% |
| Calling for a humanitarian pause in the fighting to enable safe deliveries of food, medicine, and water to Gaza | 68% |
| Vetoing a UN Security Council Resolution calling for a ceasefire that Israel does not want | 63% |
People often talk about being pro-Israel.
Do you think someone can be critical of Israeli government policies and still be pro-Israel
? (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021, November 5-9, 2023)
| 2021 | 2023 | |
| Yes | 87% | 91% |
| No | 13% | 9% |
Do you think someone can be critical of how Israel is conducting the war with Hamas and still be "pro-Israel"? (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021, November 5-9, 2023)
| 2023 | |
| Yes | 76% |
| No | 24% |
Do you support aid to Israel? (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021, November 5-9, 2023)
| 2023 | |
| Yes | 80% |
| No | 20% |
Which of the following statements comes closest to your overall view of U.S. support for Israel? (Keren Keshet, November 4, 2022, to January 2, 2023)
|
The U.S. is too supportive of Israel |
13% |
|
The U.S. is not supportive enough of Israel |
34% |
|
The level of U.S. support for Israel is about right |
53% |
How many times, if ever, have you been to Israel? (Keren Keshet, November 4, 2022, to January 2, 2023)
|
Never |
64% |
|
Once |
19% |
|
Twice or more |
14% |
|
Lived in Israel |
3% |
How emotional attached are you to Israel? (Keren Keshet, November 4, 2022, to January 2, 2023)
|
Very attached |
19% |
|
Somewhat attached |
35% |
|
Not too attached |
27% |
|
Not at all attached |
19% |
How emotionally attached are you to Israel? Very attached, somewhat attached, not very/not at all, or aren't you sure? (Ruderman Family Foundation, October 11-November 1, 2021)
| 2019 | 2021 | |
|
Attached |
67% |
64% |
| Not attached | 31% |
34% |
How much do you think what happens in Israel has something to do with your life? (Ruderman Family Foundation, October 11-November 1, 2021)
| 2021 | |
|
A lot/some |
55% |
| Not much/Not at all |
45% |
How much do you think what happens to Jews in America has something to do with your life? (Ruderman Family Foundation, October 11-November 1, 2021)
| 2021 | |
|
A lot/some |
82% |
| Not much/Not at all |
18% |
Which of the following best describes you? Are you... (Ruderman Family Foundation, October 11-November 1, 2021)
Generally pro-Israel and supportive of the current Israeli government's policies?
Generally pro-Israel but also critical of some of the current Israeli government's policies?
Generally pro-Israel but also critical of many of the current Israeli government's policies?
Generally not pro-Israel?
| 2019 | 2021 | |
|
Pro-Israel supportive of policies |
80% |
84% |
|
Pro-Israel but critical of some policies |
28% |
39% |
| Pro-Israel but critical of many policies | 29% |
26% |
| Generally not pro-Israel | 6% | 9% |
Which of the following best describes the Democratic/Republican Party in this country? (Ruderman Family Foundation, October 11-November 1, 2021)
| 2021 | ||
| Democratic Party | Republican Party | |
|
Pro-Israel supportive of policies |
13% | 50% |
|
Pro-Israel but critical of some policies |
38% | 16% |
| Pro-Israel but critical of many policies | 18% | 5% |
| Generally not pro-Israel | 21% | 13% |
Do you think the Democratic/Republican Party is becoming more pro-Israel, less pro-Israel, or not really changing its views on Israel much at all? (Ruderman Family Foundation, October 11-November 1, 2021)
| 2021 | ||
| Democratic Party | Republican Party | |
|
More pro-Israel |
16% | 39% |
|
Not changing |
19% | 29% |
| Less pro-Israel | 54% | 14% |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling relations with Israel? (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021)
| 2021 | |
| Approve | 74% |
| Disapprove | 26% |
How emotionally attached are you to Israel? (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021)
| 2021 | |
| Attached | 62% |
| Not attached | 38% |
How important is it to you that the U.S. provide financial aid to Israel? (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021)
| 2021 | |
| Important | 71% |
| Not important | 25% |
Do you support or oppose the U.S. providing the same amount of financial aid that it gives Israel, but restricting it so that Israel cannot spend U.S. aid on expanding settlements in the West Bank? (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021)
| 2021 | |
| Support | 58% |
| Oppose | 25% |
As you may know, the Trump Administration eliminated humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. The Biden Administration has recently reversed Trump's policy and has renewed humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. Do you support or oppose Biden renewing this aid? (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021)
| 2021 | |
| Support | 62% |
| Oppose | 28% |
In your opinion, which of the following would be the best resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021)
| 2021 | |
| Establishing two separate states with their own separate governments – a Jewish State of Israel alongside an independent Palestinian State | 61% |
| Establishing one state that is neither Jewish nor Palestinian, and includes Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza under a single government elected by Israelis and Palestinians | 20% |
| Israeli annexation of the West Bank that establishes one state as the national homeland of the Jewish people, and allows Palestinians to vote for their municipal leaders but not vote for Israel's national government | 19% |
As you may know, Israel recently held an election that resulted in a new government, led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid who will rotate as Prime Minister and replace Benjamin Netanyahu who served in this role for the past 12 years. Do you think the new government in Israel will strengthen or weaken relations between Israel and the United States, or will it make no difference? (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021)
| 2021 | |
| Strengthen | 30% |
| Weaken | 8% |
| No difference | 30% |
| Not sure | 32% |
For each of the following issues, please indicate whether you trust Joe Biden or Donald Trump to do a better job with this issue. (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021)
| 2021 | ||
| Biden | Trump | |
| Fighting anti-Semitism | 64% | 18% |
| Handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict | 63% | 21% |
| Handling of Iran | 65% | 22% |
Thinking about the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, do you support or oppose how President Biden handled the conflict? (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021)
| 2021 | |
| Support | 62% |
| Oppose | 21% |
For each of the following issues, please indicate whether you trust Democrats in Congress or Republicans in Congress to do a better job with this issue. (Jewish Electorate Institute, June 28-July 1, 2021)
| 2021 | ||
| Democrats | Republicans | |
| Fighting anti-Semitism | 56% | 17% |
| Handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict | 45% | 25% |
| Handling of Iran | 50% | 26% |
Which of the following statements come closest to your overall view of U.S. support for Israel? (Pew, October 2013; November 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
| Jews 2013 |
Jews 2020 |
U.S. Adults |
|
| The U.S. is too supportive of Israel | 11% | 22% |
28% |
| The U.S. is not supportive enough of Israel | 31% | 19% |
16% |
| The level of U.S. support for Israel is about right | 54% | 54% | 52% |
| No answer | 3% | 5% | 4% |
Do you think a way can be found for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully with each other? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
| Jews 2020 |
U.S. Adults |
|
| Yes, can coexist peacefully | 63% |
55% |
| No, cannot coexist peacefully | 34% |
41% |
| No answer | 3% | 4% |
Do you think the current Israeli government is making a sincere effort to bring about a peace settlement with the Palestinians, or don’t you think so? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
|
2020 |
|
| Yes, making a sincere effort |
33% |
| No, don’t think so |
64% |
| No answer | 3% |
Do you think the current Palestinian leadership is making a sincere effort to bring about a peace settlement with Israel, or don’t you think so? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
|
2020 |
|
| Yes, making a sincere effort |
12% |
| No, don’t think so |
85% |
| No answer | 3% |
How much, if anything, do you feel you have in common with Jews in Israel? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
|
2020 |
|
| A lot |
19% |
| Some |
40% |
| Not much | 31% |
| Nothing at all | 8% |
| No answer | 2% |
In general, how friendly or unfriendly do you think each of the following is toward Israel? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
| Democratic Party |
Republican Party |
Donald Trump | |
| Friendly toward Israel | 45% |
57% |
63% |
| Neutral toward Israel | 32% |
28% |
20% |
| Unfriendly toward Israel | 19% | 10% | 14% |
| No answer | 4% | 4% | 4% |
How would you rate the job Donald Trump is doing on the nation’s policy toward Israel (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
|
2020 |
|
| Excellent |
23% |
| Good |
17% |
| Only Fair | 23% |
| Poor | 35% |
| No answer | 3% |
How emotionally attached are you to Israel? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
|
2020 |
|
| Very attached |
25% |
| Somewhat attached |
32% |
| Not too attached | 27% |
| Not at all attached | 14% |
| No answer | 1% |
How many times, if ever, have you been to Israel? (Pew, October 2013; Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
| 2013 |
2020 |
|
| Never | 57% |
54% |
| Once | 19% |
19% |
| More than once | 23% | 21% |
| Lived in Israel | 1% | 5% |
| No answer | <1% | 1% |
Which comes closer to your view, even if neither is exactly right? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
|
2020 |
|
| God gave the land that is now Israel to the Jewish people |
32% |
| God did not literally give the land that is now Israel to the Jewish people |
42% |
| Does not believe in God/higher power/no answer | 24% |
| No answer | 3% |
Overall, how would you rate Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership of Israel? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
|
2020 |
|
| Excellent |
13% |
| Good |
27% |
| Only fair | 26% |
| Poor | 28% |
| No answer | 6% |
How much have you heard about the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement regarding Israel? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
|
2020 |
|
| A lot |
24% |
| Some |
31% |
| Not much | 19% |
| Nothing at all | 24% |
| No answer | 1% |
Generally speaking, do you support or oppose the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement? [Asked of the 55% who heard a lot/some about BDS] (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
|
2020 |
|
| Strongly Support |
2% |
| Somewhat support |
8% |
| Somewhat oppose | 9% |
| Strongly oppose | 34% |
| No answer | 2% |
Anti-Semitism and anti-Israel question [wording not available] (JCPA, July 21, 2020)
|
Do not agree at all
|
Agree a little bit
|
Moderately agree
|
Agree
|
Very Much Agree
|
DK/Not Sure
|
|
| People who are strongly anti-Israel or anti-Zionist are most likely anti-Semitic as well |
12%
|
17% | 22% | 22% | 24% | 4% |
| People who are anti-Semitic are most likely anti-Israel or anti-Zionist as well |
5%
|
12% | 11% | 21% | 46% | 4% |
Have you ever visited Israel? [not exact wording] (Ruderman Family Foundation, December 5-19, 2019)
| Visited Israel in the past year |
7%
|
| Visited but not in the past year |
33%
|
| Live in Israel |
4%
|
| Never |
56%
|
How emotionally attached are you to Israel? Very attached, somewhat attached, not very/not at all, or aren't you sure? (Ruderman Family Foundation, December 5-19, 2019)
| Very attached |
26%
|
| Somewhat attached |
41%
|
| not very/not at all |
31%
|
How does the personal connection you feel to Israel compare to what you felt 5 years ago? (Ruderman Family Foundation, December 5-19, 2019)
| Much Stronger |
12%
|
| Stronger |
15%
|
| About the same |
45%
|
| Much Weaker |
8%
|
| Weaker |
12%
|
How do you think the relationship between Jews in the U.S. and Israel compare to what it was 5 years ago? (Ruderman Family Foundation, December 5-19, 2019)
| Much Stronger |
9%
|
| Stronger |
14%
|
| About the same |
28%
|
| Much Weaker |
7%
|
| Weaker |
25%
|
| DK |
17%
|
Critical Of At Least Some Government Policies (Ruderman Family Foundation, December 5-19, 2019)
| Pro-Israel – Supportive of Policies |
23%
|
| Pro-Israel – Critical of Some Policies |
28%
|
| Pro-Israel – Critical of Many Policies |
29%
|
| Generally not Pro-Israe |
7%
|
In terms of national priorities and interests, how important would you rank the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? (The Brookings Institution, December 2014)
| Not among the top 5 issues |
41% |
| Among the top 5 issues |
37% |
| Among the top 3 issues |
16% |
| The most important issue in the US |
5% |
| Refused to answer |
1% |
What are your views on the following issues? (The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, July 2012)
|
Strongly Disagree |
Disagree |
Not Sure |
Agree |
Strongly Agree |
|
|
The Palestinian Authority truly wants peace |
46% |
25% |
24% |
3% |
2% |
|
The current Israeli government truly wants peace |
2% |
11% |
29% |
32% |
26% |
|
The Israeli government wants to prevent the emergence of a Palestinian state |
6% |
16% |
32% |
27% |
18% |
|
The Palestinians seek Israel's destruction |
1% |
3% |
18% |
24% |
54% |
|
Israel should freeze the expansion of settlements on the West Bank |
10% |
12% |
39% |
23% |
17% |
Please answer the following questions regarding the Israelis and Palestinians: (The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, July 2012)
Who is more to blame for the failure of both sides to reach a peace agreement?
|
Israelis More to Blame |
1% |
|
Palestinians More to Blame |
57% |
|
Both equally |
32% |
|
Not sure |
10% |
Who should the U.S. support? (The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, July 2012)
|
US should support Palestinians |
0% |
|
US should support Israel |
73% |
|
Both Equally |
17% |
|
Not sure |
9% |
Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library
