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American Opinion Toward Israel As A Friend And Ally

(1990 - Present)

Note: We are presenting raw data. We provide some or all of the crosstabs (i.e., breakdowns by various categories such as party ID) when available. 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. Context and timing may also influence responses; for example, if the survey is conducted during a war.


Does the US security relationship with Israel do more to strengthen US national security or weaken US national security? (Chicago Council Survey - Ipsos, September 7-18, 2023February 16–18, 2024)

  2023 2024
More to strengthen 64% 50%
More to weaken 32% 43%

Americans share common values with Israel. (harrisx for Jewish Federations of North America and Conference of Presidents, November 13, 2023)

Agree

76%

Disagree

24%

America is a strong and reliable supporter of Israel. (harrisx for Jewish Federations of North America and Conference of Presidents, November 13, 2023)

Agree

84%

Disagree

16%

Do you consider the countries listed below to be a friend or an enemy of the United States? [Israel]  (The Economist/YouGov, October 14-17, 2023)

  2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Ally 37% 38% 37% 40% 45%
Friendly 25% 24% 27% 27% 28%
Unfriendly 9% 9% 9% 8% 5%
Enemy 6% 6% 5% 6% 4%
Not Sure 23% 23% 22% 20% 17%

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Percent who say that Israel is... (AP/NORC, August 10-14, 2023)

An ally that shares U.S. interests and values 32%
A partner that the U.S. should cooperate with, but doesn't shares its interests and values

43%

A rival that the U.S. should compete with, but that it's not in conflict with

12%

An adversary that the U.S. is in conflict with 7%

Who is the most important ally to the U.S.? (Pew, May 30-June 4, 2023).

Country

 

UK 22%
Canada

6%

No country

6%

Israel

4%

Germany

3%

Of those who name Israel as America’s top ally, what is very important to the U.S. relationship with Israel? (Pew, May 30-June 4, 2023).

Economic ties 68%
Shared values

79%

Defense ties

94%

Generally speaking, which of following descriptions do you feel best reflects the relationship between the United States and the countries listed below? Israel (%) (Chicago Council Surveys, July 7-26, 2021)

  Rep Dem Ind Total
An ally 60% 22% 35% 37%
A necessary partner 21% 37% 29% 29%
A rival 2% 4% 4% 3%
An adversary 2% 6% 5% 4%
Don’t know 14% 30% 27% 25%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you consider the countries listed below to be a friend or an enemy of the United States? [Israel]  (The Economist/YouGov)

  10/2018 12/2019 12/20 3/2021
Ally 37% 38% 37% 40%
Friendly 25% 24% 27% 27%
Unfriendly 9% 9% 9% 8%
Enemy 6% 6% 5% 6%
Not Sure 23% 23% 22% 20%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please rate your feelings toward some countries and peoples, with one hundred meaning a very warm, favorable feeling, zero meaning a very cold, unfavorable feeling, and fifty meaning not particularly warm or cold. You can use any number from zero to one hundred, the higher the number the more favorable your feelings are toward that country or those people. (mean) (Chicago Council Surveys, June 2-19, 2020)

Country

 

Canada

81%

Great Britain

74%

Mexico

61%

South Korea

60%

Israel

58%

India

55%

Who sees the U.S. as their top ally? (Pew, Oct. 14-Nov. 24, 2019).

Country

 

Israel

82%

South Korea

71%

Philippines 64%
Japan 63%
Canada 46%
Australia 38%
Kenya 35%

Do you consider the countries listed below to be a friend or an enemy of the United States? (The Economist/YouGov , October 21-23, 2018)

Country

Ally

Friendly

Unfriendly

Enemy

Not Sure
Canada

48%

32%

5%

1%

12%
UK

54%

26%

4%

2%

15%
Germany

35%

33%

9%

3%

20%
Japan

39%

30%

7%

3%

20%
Israel

37%

25%

9%

6%

23%
Mexico

18%

40%

19%

5%

19%
Turkey

6%

24%

28%

7%

35%
Saudi Arabia

7%

21%

30%

15%

27%
China

4%

25%

34%

15%

22%
Russia

2%

12%

34%

33%

19%
Iran

2%

4%

31%

44%

19%
North Korea

2%

6%

25%

48%

20%
South Korea
37%
31%
7%
6%
19%

Do you think Donald Trump considers these countries to be friends or enemies of the United States? (The Economist/YouGov , October 21-23, 2018)

Country

Ally

Friendly

Unfriendly

Enemy

Not Sure
Canada

23%

34%

18%

7%

19%
UK

30%

32%

12%

5%

22%
Germany

15%

32%

21%

6%

26%
Japan

24%

33%

11%

6%

26%
Israel

42%

20%

7%

6%

24%
Mexico

6%

28%

28%

20%

18%
Turkey

4%

26%

24%

9%

35%
Saudi Arabia

18%

30%

14%

12%

26%
China

4%

23%

29%

21%

23%
Russia

14%

32%

20%

13%

21%
Iran

1%

7%

18%

51%

23%
North Korea

5%

27%

20%

27%

22%
South Korea
26%
35%
10%
7%
22%

American Views of Countries. (Harvard-Harris, March 2017)

Country

Ally

Neutral

Enemy

Canada

84%

13%

3%

UK

82%

15%

3%

France

73%

23%

4%

Germany

71%

24%

6%

Japan

67%

26%

8%

EU

63%

31%

6%

Israel

62%

27%

11%

India

47%

46%

7%

Brazil

46%

47%

6%

Mexico

45%

37%

18%

Egypt

31%

54%

15%

Turkey

29%

52%

19%

Saudi Arabia

28%

42%

30%

China

20%

43%

37%

Iraq

13%

35%

52%

Russia

12%

29%

59%

Iran

5%

28%

67%

North Korea

4%

15%

80%

Which country is in need of or should receive the most assistance from the United States? (Harvard-Harris, March 2017)

Israel

25%

Syria

10%

UK

8%

Mexico

6%

Ukraine

5%

France

2%

Egypt

1%

Colombia

1%

Turkey

1%

Don't know/No answer

36%

Do you consider Israel to be your country's (America) ally? (Rasmussen Reports, March 2015)

 

2015

2014

2012

Yes, Israel is America's ally
54%
68%
74%
No, Israel is not America's ally
46%
32%
26%

Please tell me whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement: "Israel can be counted on as a loyal U.S. ally." (ADL)

 

1992

1998

2002

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

Agree
60%
64%
64%
61%
66%

65%

67%

73%

Disagree
31%
24%
26%
28%
25%

24%

18%

18%

Which do you believe? Israel is a crucial American ally, OR America's relationship with Israel hurts us with the rest of the world? (ADL, October 2011)

Israel is a crucial ally

61%

America's relationship with Israel hurts us with the rest of the world

24%

 

 

Which country is the most trusted and dependable ally to the United States? (Independent Media Review Analysis, September 2011)

 

September 2011

England

65.0%

Israel

18.5%

Germany

3.4%

France

2.2%

Other

3.3%

Don't know/refused

7.6%

Which country is the second most trusted and dependable ally to the United States? (Independent Media Review Analysis, September 2011)

 

September 2011

England

19.0%

Israel

27.7%

Germany

17.5%

France

15.5%

Other

3.9%

Don't know/refused

16.4%

Is Israel an ally of the United States, an enemy of the United States or somewhere in between? (Rasmussen Reports)

 

December 2008

July 2010

Aug 2010

Ally

63%

58%

60%

Enemy

3%

5%

4%

Somewhere in between

27%

32%

31%

Not sure

7%

5%

6%

American attitudes regarding countries in the Middle East: (Rasmussen Reports, August 15, 2009)

Country

Ally

Enemy

Net

Israel

70%

8%

+62

Egypt

39%

9%

+30

Saudi Arabia

23%

25%

-2

Iraq

17%

41%

-24

Afghanistan

15%

40%

-25

Pakistan

12%

28%

-16

Iran

5%

70%

-65

What is your overall opinion of the following foreign countries? Is it favorable or unfavorable? (Gallup, February 19, 2009)

 

Israel

Saudi Arabia

Iran

Palestinian Authority

Favorable

63%

31%

12%

15%

Unfavorable

29%

60%

80%

73%

How do you regard Israel? (ADL, October 2007)

Favorably

58%

Unfavorably

23%

For each of the following countries, please say whether you consider it an ally of the United States, friendly but not an ally, unfriendly, or an enemy of the United States. (Opinion Research Corporation / CNN, Dec. 15 to Dec. 17, 2006)

 

Israel

Saudi Arabia

Iran

Syria

Ally

42%

18%

4%

8%

Friendly, but not an ally

39%

40%

14%

23%

Unfriendly

8%

18%

29%

29%

Enemy

5%

18%

48%

28%

For each of the following countries, please say whether you consider it an ally of the United States, friendly but not an ally, unfriendly, or an enemy of the United States. (Opinion Research Corporation/CNN, 12/16-12/19/06)

 

Ally

Friendly

Unfriendly

Enemy

Israel

42%

39%

8%

5%

Saudi Arabia

18%

40%

18%

18%

Iran

4%

14%

29%

48%

Syria

8%

23%

29%

28%

Do you consider Israel an ally of the United States, friendly but not an ally, unfriendly towards the U.S., or an enemy of the United States? (CNN August 2-3, 2006)

 

Israel

Lebanon

Hezbollah

Ally

49%

9%

3%

Friendly, but not an ally

33%

37

14%

Unfriendly

6%

27%

22%

Enemy

4%

15%

47%

No opinion

7%

11%

14%

Do you feel that (READ EACH ITEM) is a close ally of the U.S., is friendly but not a close ally, is not friendly but not an enemy, or is unfriendly and is an enemy of the U.S.? (Harris)

Answered "Close Ally"

 

1982

1983

1985

1991

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

 

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

Great Britain

58

 

62

 

61

56

59

62

63

65

66

63

80

64

74

70

74

 

Canada

63

58

     

61

62

70

73

70

69

63

73

60

57

51

48

 

Australia

         

36

36

47

48

43

45

42

47

43

53

45

44

 

Israel

33

 

34

44

26

26

27

32

29

31

37

31

38

37

44

43

41

47

Japan

35

   

27

13

14

14

19

21

19

23

23

26

28

32

33

30

 

Mexico

 

31

     

25

24

33

30

31

31

28

40

29

33

29

27

 

Italy

                     

27

37

30

32

27

26

 

South Korea

                         

21

25

25

25

 

Spain

                     

21

27

23

30

20

22

 

Germany

32

   

27

21

22

22

30

29

29

32

29

39

29

19

19

24

 

Holland (Nether lands)

                     

22

22

24

22

19

21

 

Sweden

                         

24

20

18

23

 

Taiwan

           

14

18

20

21

21

19

22

17

20

18

21

 

Norway

                     

20

23

21

17

18

 

Greece

                       

18

17

16

16

16

 

South Africa

             

15

14

   

9

13

12

13

16

11

 

Brazil

         

11

10

15

14

15

15

11

15

11

19

15

14

 

France

       

25

29

27

36

36

33

38

38

41

28

13

15

17

 

India

                       

8

13

12

15

20

 

Russia (Soviet Union)

(7)

(2)

(1)

(14)

10

7

4

8

6

6

6

5

17

12

13

11

11

 

Argentina

       

7

   

10

11

   

7

9

10

14

11

10

 

Chile

                     

5

7

9

8

10

11

 

Pakistan

                         

8

8

10

9

 

Colombia

                       

8

10

8

7

10

 

China

15

 

5

   

4

3

5

6

4

6

3

11

5

7

6

5

 
Kuwait                                  

16

Turkey                                  

7

Egypt                                  

5

Saudi Arabia                                  

9

Jordan                                  

8

Qatar                                  

6

Afghanistan                                  

4

Iraq                                  

3

Lebanon                                  

1

Libya                                  

1

Syria                                  

1

Iran                                  

1

Blanks where not asked
Results in ( ) indicate the former use of the words "Soviet Union" before the current use of the word "Russia."

Do you feel that (READ EACH ITEM) is a close ally of the U.S., is friendly but not a close ally, is not friendly but not an enemy, or is unfriendly and is an enemy of the U.S.? (Harris)

Answered "Not Friendly or Unfriendly"

 

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

 

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

China

59

69

59

60

57

63

64

49

56

54

54

53

 

Pakistan

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

54

52

49

53

 

France

15

14

18

15

18

18

14

11

25

43

42

41

 

Colombia

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

41

48

43

40

41

 

Russia

38

51

43

45

48

54

50

33

38

37

37

36

 

South Korea

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

33

36

35

34

 

India

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

29

32

29

32

23

 

Taiwan

 

27

25

24

26

26

25

18

26

25

26

25

 

Chile

 
 
 
 
 
 

29

17

27

23

26

23

 

Germany

19

19

21

21

20

24

20

10

19

28

25

24

 

South Africa

 
 
 
 

33

31

26

21

24

28

24

30

 

Argentina

25

 
 
 

26

23

25

16

24

19

24

25

 

Brazil

16

22

20

21

22

22

23

16

22

23

22

25

 

Sweden

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

13

20

22

17

 

Japan

30

33

32

27

31

28

29

24

24

22

21

27

 

Spain

 
 
 
 
 
 

16

12

19

20

21

20

 

Israel

29

29

28

32

30

23

24

24

22

19

20

19

24

Greece

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

15

20

21

18

19

 

Mexico

19

14

18

20

21

24

20

14

21

20

16

20

 

Holland (Netherlands)

 
 
 
 
 
 

14

11

14

15

16

15

 

Norway

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

12

15

14

15

20

 

Italy

 
 
 
 
 
 

16

10

13

15

12

21

 

Canada

2

3

6

6

6

5

7

3

6

10

10

12

 

Australia

5

7

8

5

9

9

10

7

9

8

10

9

 

Great Britain

7

7

7

7

9

8

8

1

6

6

6

4

 
Kuwait
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

49

Turkey
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

55

Egypt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

54

Saudi Arabia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

57

Jordan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

57

Qatar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

67

Afghanistan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

77

Iraq
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

82

Lebanon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

85

Libya
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

88

Syria
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

91

Iran
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

97

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: It is critical that the next President of the United States support Israel, our democratic ally in the Middle East. (The Israel Project, July 17-19, 2004)

Agree

67% (of which 35% agree strongly)

Disagree

24% (of which 8% disagree strongly)


Which statement is closest to your own view? (ADL, December 2003)

As a world leader trying to bring peace to the Middle East, it is important for the U.S. to work with Arab nations like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, even if it means weakening our strong relationship with Israel. 44%
Israel is America's most loyal ally in the Middle East. The U.S. has a moral and strategic obligation to keep our relationship with Israel strong, even if this means weakening our relationship with the Arab world. 31%

 

For each of the following countries, please describe your view of the relationship between that country and the United States. First, would you say Israel is an ally, friendly, but not an ally, unfriendly but not an enemy, an enemy of the U.S. or haven't you heard enough about that to say: (Gallup)

  March 2000
An ally 40%
Friendly, not ally 20%
Unfriendly, not enemy 14%
Enemy of the U.S. 4%
Haven't heard enough to say 22%

I'd like you to tell me whether or not you think that country (Israel) is or not a reliable ally of the United States: (Roper Poll)

 
Reliable Ally
Not a Reliable Ally
Apr.'89
44
34
Apr.'88
43
36
Feb.'87
49
29
June.'86
52
32

Would you say that Israel is a reliable ally or not? (WP-ABC, February 12-14, 1989)

 
Feb.'89
Apr.'86
Sept.'86
March'82
Oct.'81
A Reliable Ally
41
54
40
54
64
Not a Reliable Ally
56
40
45
35
24

Tell me if you feel that country is a close ally of the U.S., is friendly but not a close ally, is not friendly but not an enemy, or is unfriendly and an enemy of the U.S. (Specified country, Israel): (USA Today)

 
Dec.'74
Nov.'81
Jan.'82
June'82
Aug.'82
Close ally
26
35
29
35
24
Friendly
49
49
46
44
49
Not friendly
10
8
14
11
13
Enemy
1
3
3
2
3
Not sure
14
5
8
8
11
Total
100
100
100
100
100

 

 
Nov.'82
Feb.'83
Sep.'83
Nov.'84
Oct.'85
Close ally
32
24
35
35
34
Friendly
40
45
43
43
38
Not friendly
16
16
12
12
16
Enemy
4
4
3
3
5
Not sure
8
11
7
7
7
Total
100
100
100
100
100

Do you think the State of Israel is a close ally of the US; is friendly, but not a close ally; is not friendly, but not an enemy; or is an enemy of the United States. (Marttila & Kiley, 2/91)

Close ally
46%
Friendly, not an ally
42%
Not friendly, not enemy
8%
Enemy
1%
Not sure
3%

Tell me whether you think that country is a reliable ally of the U.S. - one that can be trusted to cooperate with the U.S. in almost any circumstances - or not. Would you say that country is a reliable ally of the U.S. or not. (Responses indicate reliable ally)

 
WP-ABC Oct.'81
WP-ABC Mar.'82
WP-ABC Aug.'82
Gallup Jan.'83
Roper Jan.'84
Israel
64
54
44
41
54
Egypt
59
52
39
33
37
Saudi Arabia
33
28
28
NA
NA
Jordan
NA
24
26
16
17
Syria
NA
14
9
5
7

(ADL)

 
Jan.
May
Israel is a reliable ally
52
41
Israel threatens the U.S.
28
29
DK
15
26

(AJC)

 

April

Israel is a reliable ally
44
Israel is a friend
32

 

 Israel as U.S. Ally (1989 data from Marttila & Kiley, ADL 1989: 1988 data from Gallup, AJC)

 
All Voters 88
All Voters 89
College Men 88
College Men 89
Informed Intifada 88
Informed Intifada 89
Close Ally
44
34
65
46
61
47
Friendly/Not Ally
32
39
27
41
29
38
Not Friendly/Not Enemy
10
14
4
6
6
7
Enemy
5
8
2
5
2
6

In the future, do you think that Israel will be an ally that the United States can depend on, or not? (CBS News/New York Times Poll, June 5-8. 1990)

Can Depend
45
Cannot
40
DK/NA
16

The U.S. should give stronger support to Israel than the Arabs. Israel is a reliable ally of the U.S. 

U.S. should give stronger support to... (ADL)

 
January
May
Israel
47
44
Arabs
12
7
Don't know
14
20