American views of Israel and its prime minister are growing more negative, with younger adults driving much of the shift, according to new survey data released this week.
The Pew Research Center report shows 60% of U.S. adults now hold an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 53% last year and nearly 20 percentage points higher than in 2022.
Confidence in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also declined, with 59% of Americans saying they have little or no confidence in his handling of world affairs — a seven-point increase from a year ago.
The shift is particularly pronounced among younger Americans. In both major political parties, adults under age 50 are now more likely to view Israel and Netanyahu negatively, marking a significant generational divide in attitudes.
Partisan differences remain stark. Among Democrats, negative views of Israel have climbed to 80%, while a majority of Republicans — 58% — still hold favorable views, though that support has softened among younger Republicans.
Religious affiliation also plays a major role in shaping opinion. Jewish Americans and white evangelical Protestants remain among the most supportive of Israel, while significantly lower favorability is seen among Catholics, Black Protestants and those who are religiously unaffiliated.
The survey also highlights growing skepticism toward leadership. While Republicans remain divided on Netanyahu, Democrats overwhelmingly express a lack of confidence, with more than half saying they have no confidence at all in his decision-making on global issues.
Meanwhile, more than half of Americans — 55% — say they lack confidence in President Donald Trump to manage U.S.-Israel relations, underscoring broader uncertainty about leadership on the issue.
Despite shifting opinions, the Israel-Hamas conflict remains a meaningful issue for many Americans. About 53% say it is personally important to them, though that figure trails concern over U.S. military action involving Iran.
Overall, the findings point to increasingly complex and divided public attitudes toward one of the United States’ closest allies, shaped by age, politics and evolving global dynamics.
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