US Support for Israel Declines Sharply Amid Genocide Claims in Gaza

A recent AP-NORC poll reveals a significant erosion of the longstanding bipartisan support in the United States for Israel. Approximately one-third of American adults, including about half of Democrats and 30% of Jewish Americans, believe Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Conversely, only 20% of the general public and around half of Jewish respondents completely reject this claim, while the remainder say they lack sufficient information to form an opinion. Among Republican supporters, the belief in genocide is much lower at just 13%.

The poll also highlights stark divisions over the justification of Israel's military actions. Most respondents who expressed an opinion agree that Israel's immediate military response to the October 7 massacre was justified, but a majority view the ongoing operations as unjustified. This trend is evident among Jewish Americans as well, with three-quarters supporting the initial response but only about 40% endorsing continued fighting.

Within American politics, the most dramatic shift is seen among Democrats. Currently, 58% of Democrats believe the US "supports Israel too much," a sharp increase from 45% in January 2024. This sentiment is shared by 51% of Jewish Democrats. Additionally, 62% of Democrats feel the US government does not provide enough support to Palestinians. This viewpoint is no longer confined to younger Democrats, as older members have increasingly adopted it over the past two years.

In contrast, Republican attitudes remain stable and markedly different. A strong majority of 60% of Republicans consider the current level of US support for Israel to be "about right." Only 20% think the US supports Israel excessively, a view more common among younger Republicans. The most notable change among Republicans is the sharp decline in those who believe the US does not support Israel enough, dropping from 39% at the start of 2024 to just 15% in the latest poll.