A survey published by CNN highlights a marked decline in the popularity of Israel within the American public, with an unprecedented shift in favor of the Palestinians. While in 2022, Americans expressed sympathy for Israel with a 28-point advantage, the trend reversed in 2026, with an 11-point gap in favor of the Palestinians. Overall, net support for Israel has dropped from +13 points to -23 points, a 36-point decrease over four years.
This erosion also affects the Republican camp, historically favorable to Israel. Among Republicans under 50, support has shifted from +28 points to -16 points. A similar trend is observed among moderate or liberal Republicans, where opinion shifted from +26 to -9 points. Politically, this evolution is reflected notably in the Kentucky Republican primary, where candidate Thomas Massie, a critic of Israel, is widely favored despite opposition from President Donald Trump and pro-Israel circles.
Analysts attribute this turnaround to the prolonged war led by Israel in the Middle East, whose international repercussions strongly influence American public opinion, especially among younger generations. Increasing global criticism seems to be reshaping the perception of the conflict and weakening traditional support for the Hebrew state.
On the Democratic side, the change is even more pronounced. Among moderate or conservative party voters, support for Israel has collapsed, from +3 points in 2022 to -55 points today. A comparable drop is observed among men under 50, a key group in the 2024 election, where opinion shifted from -3 to -47 points.
The personal popularity of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu follows the same trajectory. After reaching a positive level in early 2024, it is now negative by 23 points, and even -35 points among independent voters, a level comparable to that of Donald Trump. Lastly, interest in the role of the pro-Israel lobby is intensifying, with a dramatic increase in online searches for AIPAC, a sign that the Israeli issue is becoming increasingly divisive in American political debate.
Context: The shift in American public opinion towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is explored in this article, highlighting changes in support for Israel and the reasons behind them. Fact Check: It is important to cross-reference the information presented in the survey with other sources to verify the accuracy of the results and the analysis provided.
