American Jewish Opinion Toward Israel
See also: AJC Surveys of American Jewish Opinion
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% |
Very attached |
26% |
26% |
Not attached | 31% |
34% |
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 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 |
12% | 39% |
Not changing |
19% | 29% |
Less pro-Israel | 54% | 14% |
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% |