A new Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday reveals a significant drop in American voter support for Israel, with both Republican and Democratic sympathies declining amid Israel’s
ongoing military operations in Gaza.
Among Republican voters, 64% now say they sympathize more with Israelis—down 14 percentage points from 78% in May 2024. Sympathy for Palestinians remains low at 7%, but a notable 30% of Republicans now express no clear preference, a 13-point increase from the previous year.
Democratic support for Israel has decreased even more dramatically. Just 12% now side more with Israelis, compared to 30% a year ago. Meanwhile, 60% of Democrats express greater sympathy for Palestinians.
Overall, sympathy for Palestinians among American voters has reached a record high, while support for Israelis has dropped to its lowest level since Quinnipiac began tracking these sentiments in 2001. The partisan gap in views has widened to a historic 50-point difference.
This trend aligns with findings from other national surveys. A Gallup poll in February found only a third of Democrats held a favorable view of Israel—a 30-point drop over three years. Republican support, while still higher, has also waned as frustration with Israel’s handling of the Gaza conflict grows.
Former President Donald Trump’s recent international trip, which notably excluded a stop in Israel, has further fueled speculation about strained relations. Instead, Trump prioritized meetings with leaders in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.
Public opinion also pushes back against Trump’s controversial idea for the U.S. to take control of Gaza. An April Pew Research Center poll showed 62% of Americans opposed the proposal, including 44% of Republicans.
Jewish American attitudes are shifting as well. A recent survey found that the proportion of Jewish Americans who feel "very or somewhat attached" to Israel has fallen from 82% before the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, to 69% today.
Despite declining political support for Israel, concerns about antisemitism remain high. According to the Quinnipiac poll, 73% of voters consider antisemitism a very serious or somewhat serious issue.
Regarding Trump’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, 35% of voters approved, while 52% disapproved. His performance on addressing antisemitism drew similar criticism, with 36% approving and 49% disapproving. His administration’s efforts, including university funding cuts and crackdowns on pro-Palestinian campus protests, have also been met with disapproval—54% of voters disapprove of his approach to handling universities, while only 37% approve.
The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,265 registered voters nationwide between June 5 and June 9 and has a margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points. Photo by User:Wasted Time R, Wikimedia commons.
