Growing Negative View of Israel and Netanyahu Among Americans, Especially Youth

Washington – Said Arikat – 4/9/2026

A recent study by the Pew Research Center showed that Americans have become more negative towards Israel and its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

The survey results showed:

60% of American adults have an unfavorable view of Israel, compared to 53% last year; and 59% have no confidence in Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do what is right globally, compared to 52% last year.

In both political parties, a majority of adults under the age of fifty view Israel and Netanyahu negatively.

The survey, published on Tuesday, April 7, was conducted from March 23 to 29 and included 3,507 American adults, about a month after the US-Israeli-led war in Iran.

Americans' View of Israel

The survey showed that six out of ten Americans have a partially or entirely negative view of Israel, an increase of 7 percentage points from last year, and nearly 20 points since 2022. The percentage of those with a very negative view of Israel also increased from 19% to 28% since last year, and tripled compared to 2022.

Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 80% have a negative view of Israel, compared to 69% last year and 53% in 2022. Democrats under the age of fifty are more likely to have a very negative assessment of Israel (47% versus 39% for older adults).

As for Republicans, a majority have a positive view of Israel (58% versus 41%). However, the percentage of young Republicans with a negative assessment has increased (57% of those aged 18 to 49 versus 50% last year).

Views on Israel also differ by religious affiliation: American Jews and white evangelical Christians often have a positive view (64% and 65% respectively), while a positive view is less common among white non-evangelical Protestants (39%), Catholics (35%), Black Protestants (33%), and the religiously unaffiliated (22%). Among American Muslims, only 4% view Israel positively.

Americans' Confidence in Netanyahu on Global Affairs

A majority of Democrats (76%) also distrust Netanyahu, a 6-point increase from last year. Nearly half of Democrats (52%) say they have no confidence in him at all, compared to 37% last year.

As for Republicans, their opinions are mixed, with 45% having some or a lot of confidence in Netanyahu, compared to 44% having little or no confidence. The assessment varies by age; Republicans over 50 are more confident in him compared to younger adults (58% versus 33% of older adults).

Americans' Confidence in Trump Regarding Relations with Israel

More than half of Americans (55%) do not trust former President Donald Trump to make good decisions regarding the relationship between the United States and Israel. Americans appear to have more confidence in Trump regarding this relationship compared to several other foreign policy issues, including US policy towards Iran (35%).

Among Republicans, 73% trust Trump to manage the relationship with Israel, compared to only 16% of Democrats. Young Republicans appear less confident than older adults (52% versus 93%).

Importance of the Israeli-Hamas Conflict to Americans

More than half of Americans (53%) consider the conflict between Israel and Hamas personally important to them, a percentage that has not changed much from last year before the ceasefire. The importance of this conflict is less compared to the American military campaign against Iran (53% versus 77%).

The importance varies by age and religion, with 91% of American Jews, 70% of Muslims, and 65% of white evangelicals considering the conflict important to them.

The survey results clearly show that young Americans under the age of fifty have become more negative towards Israel and Netanyahu compared to older adults. This phenomenon indicates radical shifts in the awareness of younger generations, perhaps due to media openness and interaction with human rights issues and regional conflicts. Current Israeli policy, especially amidst tensions with Palestinians, significantly affects youth public opinion, reflecting a long-term change in traditional support for Israel within the United States.

The survey reveals a clear gap between Democrats and Republicans regarding confidence in Netanyahu. Democrats express almost complete distrust, while Republicans are divided by age. This division reflects the impact of party affiliation on the evaluation of foreign policies, and shows that international issues are no longer a neutral topic in American politics. The reliance on age within the Republican party indicates that experience and political history play a role in shaping confidence, which is an important indicator for future US-Israeli relations strategy.

Religious affiliations play a clear role in shaping Americans' views of Israel and Netanyahu. American Jews and white evangelicals show relative loyalty, while Muslims, the religiously unaffiliated, and Catholics have clear negative assessments. This division reflects that religion is not just a matter of faith, but forms a cultural and political framework that determines attitudes towards international issues. These differences can affect domestic and foreign policies, especially in American election campaigns that target diverse religious groups with different positions.

Comment Four: Importance of the Israeli-Hamas Conflict Versus the American Campaign Against Iran

Despite escalating tensions in the Middle East, the survey shows that Americans consider the Israeli-Hamas conflict less personally important compared to the American campaign against Iran. This reflects Americans' strategic priorities, which tend to focus on policies that directly affect US national security. It also indicates that the media and political narrative surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict no longer affects American public opinion to the same extent, compared to issues that citizens perceive as directly threatening US interests.

Despite escalating tensions in the Middle East, the survey shows that Americans consider the Israeli-Hamas conflict less personally important compared to the American campaign against Iran. This reflects Americans' strategic priorities, which tend to focus on policies that directly affect US national security. It also indicates that the media and political narrative surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict no longer affects American public opinion to the same extent, compared to issues that citizens perceive as directly threatening US interests.