Israeli Attitudes About the United States and U.S. Politics

We are presenting raw data. To analyze the data, we encourage users to read the entire study and the methodology used. Results and reliability can be affected by sample size, question wording, and question order. Context and timing may also influence responses, for example, if the survey is conducted during a war.

See also Opinion on Settlements and Outposts.

In terms of Israel’s interests, which of the two candidates for the US presidency would be better? (Israel Democracy Institute, October 28-November 3, 2024)

If you had a vote in the U.S. election who would you pick? (News Israel 13, October 21, 2024)

To what extent do you agree with this statement?  United States support for Israel is essential to Israel's survival (INSS, October 10-13, 2024)

Do you think relations between Israel and the United States have improved or deteriorated over the past year? (INSS, October 10-13, 2024)

If you had a vote in the U.S. election who would you pick? (Langer Reasearch/PORI poll, September 8-22, 2024)

Which candidate do you think would be better for Israel's security? (Langer Reasearch/PORI poll, September 8-22, 2024)

In your opinion, what is the likelihood that the United States will take the following actions with regard to its relations with Israel? [High Likelihood] (Israel Democracy Institute, September 15-19, 2024)

Do you approve or disapprove of the performance of the leadership of the United States? (Gallup, 2013, July 2018, July 2016, October 17-December 3, 2023, July-August 2024)

To what extent do you think Israel should take account of the position of the United States when deciding its war policy? (INSS, August 8-11, 2024)

In terms of Israel’s interests, which of the two candidates for the U.S. presidency would be better? (Israel Democracy Institute, July 30-August 4, 2024)

As an Israeli, which of the two main candidates would you prefer right now? (JPPI, July 2024)

In terms of Israel’s interests, which of the two candidates for the U.S. presidency would be better? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, May 1-6, 2024)

Do pro-Palestinian protests at universities in the United States and Europe reflect or not reflect the opinion of the majority of the public in these countries? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, May 1-6, 2024)

Please tell me if you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable opinion of the United States. (Pew, February 20-May 22, 2023, March 3 April 4, 2024)

How much confidence do you have in U.S. President Joe Biden to do the right thing regarding world affairs — a lot of confidence, some confidence, not too much confidence or no confidence at all? [a lot/some confidence] (Pew, March 16-May 1, 2022, February 20-May 22, 2023)

Please tell me if you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of Benjamin Netanyahu? (Pew, February 20-May 22, 2023, March 3 April 4, 2024)

Please tell me if you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of Abu Mazen? (Pew, February 20-May 22, 2023, March 3 April 4, 2024)

Do you think U.S. President Joe Biden is …? (Pew, March 3 April 4, 2024)

Against the backdrop of the disagreements between the Israeli government and the U.S. administration over a political agreement and the continuation of the fighting in Gaza, to what extent is it currently possible to rely on continued massive American support for Israel? (Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, February 28-March 4, 2024)

How do you rate the current state of Israel-U.S. relations? (Mitvim Foreign Policy Index, July 2023)

To what extent do you agree with the following statement: “The U.S. is and must remain Israel’s main ally in the future?” (Mitvim Foreign Policy Index, July 2023)

Would you describe your opinion of the United States as favorable or unfavorable?

How much confidence do you have in the U.S. president to do the right thing regarding world affairs — a lot of confidence, some confidence, not too much confidence or no confidence at all? (Pew, March 16-May 1, 2022, February 20-May 22, 2023)

In general, how would you describe relations today between the United States and Israel? Would you say they are very good, somewhat good, somewhat bad or very bad? (Pew, March 16-May 1, 2022)

Do you think U.S. President Joe Biden is …? (Pew, March 16-May 1, 2022)

Do you approve or disapprove of U.S. President Joe Biden’s plan to reopen the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem? (Pew, March 16-May 1, 2022)

Who would you prefer to win the US presidential elections this November? (Mitvim, September 2020)
Which U.S. presidential candidate do you think will be better for Israel? (i24News, October 6, 2020)
From the standpoint of Israel’s interests, who, in your opinion, is the preferable candidate in the imminent U.S. presidential elections—Donald Trump (Republican Party) or Joe Biden (Democratic Party)? (IDI, October 27 to 29, 2020)
Which U.S. presidential candidate do you think will be better for Israel? (i24News, October 6, 2020)

And if Biden wins the race for the presidency, how will it affect the relations between the United States and Israel? (IDI, October 27 to 29, 2020)

The relations between the United States and The Palestinians? (IDI, October 27 to 29, 2020)

U.S.-Israel relations will be harmed if Biden is elected. (i24News, October 6, 2020)

Approval of Trump policies (index based on responses to six poicies relating to tarifs, climate change agreements, border wall with Mexico, immigration, Iran nuclear agreement and negotiations with North Korea)  (Pew, Spring 2019)

Top five of 33 countries approving of Trump policies

Average rankings on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) (Mitvim, September 2019, 2020)

To what extent are the Palestinians interests important or unimportant to President Trump? (Peace Index, July 2018)

To what extent are Israel’s interests important or unimportant to President Trump? (Peace Index, July 2018)

Would the U.S. protect Israel if it’s existence is threatened? (Haaretz, July 2018)

Is Netanyahu correctly managing U.S.-Israeli relations? (Haaretz, July 2018)

Has U.S. standing in the world gotten stronger, stayed the same, or weakened since the election of Donald Trump? (Haaretz, July 2018)

Will the peace plan produced by the Trump Administration be more pro-Israeli or more pro-Palestinian? (Haaretz, July 2018)

Do you like U.S. President Donald Trump? (Haaretz, July 2018)

To what extent would you like to move to the U.S.? (Haaretz, July 2018)

Do you hold a favorable or unfavorable view of U.S. President Donald Trump?
(UMD/Politico, May 2018)

Which of the following is closest to your opinion about President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. Embassy there?
(UMD/Politico, May 2018)

Do you approve of U.S. leadership in the region?
(Gallup, May 2018)

In your opinion, to what extent does U.S. president Trump understand or not understand Israel’s real interests?
(Peace Index, December 2017)

Who has more influence over current developments in the Middle East, Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump?
 (Peace Index, March 2017)

What is your assessment of the current relations between Israel and the U.S. on a scale of 1-10 (1 being bad and 10 being great)?
  (Mitvim Israeli Foreign Policy Index, October 2017)

In  your opinion, will  President  Trump  continue  or  not  continue  the  policy of his predecessor, Obama, in favor of a two-states-for-two-peoples solution?
 (Peace Index, March 2017)

In your opinion, to what extent is solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict currently a central issue on President Trump’s agenda?
 (Peace Index, February 2017)

In your opinion, what will be the attitude toward Israel of the incoming president, Donald Trump?
 (Peace Index, December 2016)

In general, how do you view the behavior toward Israel of outgoing U.S. president Barack Obama during his tenure?
 (Peace Index, December 2016)

In the Israeli-Palestinian sphere, is U.S. president-elect Trump, in your opinion...?
 (Peace Index, November 2016)

And what, in your opinion, will the new U.S. administration do regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the next two or three years?
 (Peace Index, November 2016)

Some fear that Trump’s election will lead to a rise in antisemitism in the U.S. In your opinion, is this fear justified?
 (Peace Index, November 2016)

Ron Dermer, Israeli ambassador to the U.S., recently said that “Israel has no doubt that President-elect Trump is a true friend of Israel…. We look forward to working… with all of the members of the Trump administration… and making the U.S.-Israel alliance stronger than ever.” In your opinion, is good cooperation likely between the Israeli government and the Trump administration?
 (Peace Index, November 2016)

Who, in your opinion, will be elected U.S. president - Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump?
(Peace Index, October 2016)

And which candidate’s election is preferable from Israel’s standpoint?
(Peace Index, October 2016)

Who do you want to win the U.S. presidential elections in November: Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?
(Peace Index, September 2016)

Which of the two candidates, Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, if elected, will be better from the standpoint of the Israeli government’s policy?
(Peace Index, September 2016)

At the moment it appears that the two leading candidates to be U.S. president are Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party and Donald Trump for the Republican Party. Which of the two, in your opinion, will be a better president from the standpoint of Israel’s interests?
(Peace Index, April 2016)

At the moment it appears that the two leading candidates to be U.S. president are Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party and Donald Trump for the Republican Party. Which of the two, in your opinion, will be a better president from the standpoint of U.S. interests?
(Peace Index, March 2016)

The U.S. presidential elections are nearing their climax. In your opinion, which of the two Democratic candidates for president is preferable from Israel’s standpoint - Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders? (In Arabic: which of the two Democratic candidates for president is more pro Israel?)
(Peace Index, February 2016)

From which party, in your opinion, will a President be better for Israel: from the Democratic Party or from the Republican Party? (In Arabic: And from which party, in your opinion, will a president be more pro Israel?)
(Peace Index, February 2016)

If you had the opportunity to become a citizen of the United States or any other Western country, would you prefer to move there or to remain in Israel?
(Israel Democracy Index, November 2015)

Given the worsening of relations between the Netanyahu-led Israeli government and the Obama-led American administration and the growing Western criticism of Israeli policy on the Palestinian issue, what in your opinion are the chances that the United States and the West will in the near future impose a political settlement on Israel based on the two-states-for-two- peoples solution?
(Peace Index, March 2015)

On a scale of 1-5, with 1 meaning very poor and 5 meaning very good, what grade would you give the relations at the present time between Israel and the United States?
(Peace Index, March 2015)

In your opinion, to what extent should Israel take into account the United States’ position when it makes decisions on political-security issues?
(The Peace Index, December 2014)

Did the United States harm Israeli interests by signing the nuclear deal with Iran?
              (New Wave Research, November 2013)

The United States’ role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be ...

If Mitt Romney is the Republican candidate for President, whom would you like to see elected as the next president?
               Brookings (February 2012)

If Rick Santorum is the Republican candidate for President, whom would you like to see elected as the next president?
               Brookings (February 2012)

If Newt Gingrich is the Republican candidate for President, whom would you like to see elected as the next president?
               Brookings (February 2012)

If Ron Paul is the Republican candidate for President, whom would you like to see elected as the next president?
               Brookings (February 2012)

Do you believe your country’s government cooperates too much, not enough or about the right amount with the United States? (Pew, May 2011)

In your opinion, will the United States recognize or not recognize an independent Palestinian state if there is a vote on this matter at the UN, even if at that time there is no agreement between Israel and the Palestinians and the Israeli government is opposed to the move? (Peace Index, May 2011)

How would you describe the position of American President Barack Obama toward Israel and the Palestinians in light of his speeches during the past week? (Peace Index, May 2011)

If the US does play a more active role, do you expect this involvement will be a success or a failure? (Truman Institute/PCPSR)

Do you think Israel or the Palestinians would benefit more if the US intervened strongly in the peace process? (Truman Institute/PCPSR)

Do you think that the US will decrease its military, economic or political support for Israel if Israel continues to be reluctant about US policy in the region? (Truman Institute/PCPSR)

Do you agree of disagree with the statement that the US is a loyal ally of Israel? (Ma’agar Mochot)

As an Israeli, is your attitude towards the US positive or negative? (Ma’gar Mochot)

Do you believe that if Israel reaches a point of serious crisis where its very existence is threatened — a "moment of truth" — the US will come to Israel’s assistance? (Ma’gar Mochot)

What is the the main reason why the US will continue to maintain close ties with Israel in the future? (Ma’gar Mochot)

Do you believe that close relations between the US and Israel are vital to the State of Israel’s national security? (Ma’gar Mochot)

Will the Obama administration and Netanyahu’s government be able to maintain the friendly ties between the US and Israel or will US-Israel relations deteriorate and become fraught with tensions during their incumbencies? (Ma’gar Mochot, April 23-26, 2009)

Are US and Israeli interests in the Middle East similar, complementary or different? (Ma’gar Mochot)

Obama has declared his intention of bringing about reconciliation with the Muslim and Arab worlds in order to improve the US’s position and image therein. Do you believe or not that such reconciliation will be at the expense of Israel’s interests? (Ma’gar Mochot, April 23-26, 2009)

Which of the following is closest to your view ? (Ma’gar Mochot, April 23-26, 2009)

Which of the following is closest to your view? (Ma’gar Mochot, April 23-26, 2009)

Which of the following is closest to your view ? (Ma’gar Mochot, April 23-26, 2009)

Suppose all diplomatic and economic efforts fail to convince Iran to shut down its uranium enrichment plant. If that happens, would you support or oppose Israeli military action aimed at destroying the Iranian nuclear facilities? (Ma’agar Mochot, April 23-26, 2009)

Would you still support Israel taking military action if the Obama administration opposed Israel taking action? (Asked only to supporters of Israeli military action against Iran) (Ma’agar Mochot, April 23-26, 2009)

Is the current level of support by American Jews for the Israeli government’s policy too little, too much or about right? (Ma’agar Mochot, April 23-26, 2009)

Should American Jews feel free to publicly criticize the Israeli government and its policy? (Ma’gar Mochot)

Do American Jews continue to be close to Israel or are they drifting away from it? (Ma’agar Mochot, April 23-26, 2009)

Do you believe that President Bush’s attitude towards Israel is friendly? (Ma’gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Do you think that in the near future the US might impose a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? (Ma’gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Do you believe that if the international diplomatic effort and economic sanctions fail to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, the US "should use force" to destroy the Iranian nuclear facilities? (Ma’gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Do you agree of disagree with the statement that in retrospect the US was correct in going to war in Iraq? (Ma’gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Do you believe that the level of American Jewish support for Israel is sufficient? (Ma’gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Do you believe that US Jews are assimilating rapidly and are in danger of disappearing? (Ma’gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Do you believe that every American Jew should visit Israel? (Ma’gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Do you think it is possible that American Jews might vote for a presidential or congressional candidate who is anti-Israel? (Ma’gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Do you believe that there is anti-Semitism in the US? (Ma’gar Mochot, May 1-4, 2007)

Credit: Data courtesy of the Guttman Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI).