American Jewish Opinion Toward Israel
See also: AJC Surveys of American Jewish Opinion
How emotionally attached are you to Israel? Very attached, somewhat attached, not very/not at all or aren't you sure? (Ruderman Family Foundation, October 11-November 1, 2021)
2019 | 2021 | |
Attached | 67% | 64% |
Very attached | 26% | 26% |
Not attached | 31% | 34% |
Which of the following best describes you? Are you... (Ruderman Family Foundation, October 11-November 1, 2021)
Generally pro-Israel and supportive of the current Israeli government's policies?
Generally pro-Israel but also critical of some of the current Israeli government's policies?
Generally pro-Israel but also critical of many of the current Israeli government's policies?
Generally not pro-Israel?
2019 | 2021 | |
Pro-Israel supportive of policies | 80% | 84% |
Pro-Israel but critical of some policies | 28% | 39% |
Pro-Israel but critical of many policies | 29% | 26% |
Generally not pro-Israel | 6% | 9% |
WHich of the following best describes Democratic/Republican Party in this country? (Ruderman Family Foundation, October 11-November 1, 2021)
2021 | ||
Democratic Party | Republican Party | |
Pro-Israel supportive of policies | 13% | 50% |
Pro-Israel but critical of some policies | 38% | 16% |
Pro-Israel but critical of many policies | 18% | 5% |
Generally not pro-Israel | 21% | 13% |
Do you think the Democratic/Republican Party is becoming more pro-Israel, less pro-Israel, or not really changing its views on Israel much at all? (Ruderman Family Foundation, October 11-November 1, 2021)
2021 | ||
Democratic Party | Republican Party | |
More pro-Israel | 12% | 39% |
Not changing | 19% | 29% |
Less pro-Israel | 54% | 14% |
Which of the following statements come closest to your overall view of U.S. support for Israel? (Pew, October 2013; November 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
Jews 2013 | Jews 2020 | U.S. Adults | |
The U.S. is too supportive of Israel | 11% | 22% | 28% |
The U.S. is not supportive enough of Israel | 31% | 19% | 16% |
The level of U.S. support for Israel is about right | 54% | 54% | 52% |
No answer | 3% | 5% | 4% |
Do you think a way can be found for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully with each other? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
Jews 2020 | U.S. Adults | |
Yes, can coexist peacefully | 63% | 55% |
No, cannot coexist peacefully | 34% | 41% |
No answer | 3% | 4% |
Do you think the current Israeli government is making a sincere effort to bring about a peace settlement with the Palestinians, or don’t you think so? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
2020 | |
Yes, making a sincere effort | 33% |
No, don’t think so | 64% |
No answer | 3% |
Do you think the current Palestinian leadership is making a sincere effort to bring about a peace settlement with Israel, or don’t you think so? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
2020 | |
Yes, making a sincere effort | 12% |
No, don’t think so | 85% |
No answer | 3% |
How much, if anything, do you feel you have in common with Jews in Israel? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
2020 | |
A lot | 19% |
Some | 40% |
Not much | 31% |
Nothing at all | 8% |
No answer | 2% |
In general, how friendly or unfriendly do you think each of the following is toward Israel? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
Democratic Party | Republican Party | Donald Trump | |
Friendly toward Israel | 45% | 57% | 63% |
Neutral toward Israel | 32% | 28% | 20% |
Unfriendly toward Israel | 19% | 10% | 14% |
No answer | 4% | 4% | 4% |
How would you rate the job Donald Trump is doing on the nation’s policy toward Israel (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
2020 | |
Excellent | 23% |
Good | 17% |
Only Fair | 23% |
Poor | 35% |
No answer | 3% |
How emotionally attached are you to Israel? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
2020 | |
Very attached | 25% |
Somewhat attached | 32% |
Not too attached | 27% |
Not at all attached | 14% |
No answer | 1% |
How many times, if ever, have you been to Israel? (Pew, October 2013; Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
2013 | 2020 | |
Never | 57% | 54% |
Once | 19% | 19% |
More than once | 23% | 21% |
Lived in Israel | 1% | 5% |
No answer | <1% | 1% |
Which comes closer to your view, even if neither is exactly right? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
2020 | |
God gave the land that is now Israel to the Jewish people | 32% |
God did not literally give the land that is now Israel to the Jewish people | 42% |
Does not believe in God/higher power/no answer | 24% |
No answer | 3% |
Overall, how would you rate Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership of Israel? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
2020 | |
Excellent | 13% |
Good | 27% |
Only fair | 26% |
Poor | 28% |
No answer | 6% |
How much have you heard about the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement regarding Israel? (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
2020 | |
A lot | 24% |
Some | 31% |
Not much | 19% |
Nothing at all | 24% |
No answer | 1% |
Generally speaking, do you support or oppose the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement? [Asked of the 55% who heard a lot/some about BDS] (Pew, Nov. 19, 2019-June 3, 2020)
2020 | |
Strongly Support | 2% |
Somewhat support | 8% |
Somewhat oppose | 9% |
Strongly oppose | 34% |
No answer | 2% |
Anti-Semitism and anti-Israel question [wording not available] (JCPA, July 21, 2020)
Do not agree at all | Agree a little bit | Moderately agree | Agree | Very Much Agree | DK/Not Sure | |
People who are strongly anti-Israel or anti-Zionist are most likely anti-Semitic as well | 12% | 17% | 22% | 22% | 24% | 4% |
People who are anti-Semitic are most likely anti-Israel or anti-Zionist as well | 5% | 12% | 11% | 21% | 46% | 4% |
Have you ever visited Israel? [not exact wording] (Ruderman Family Foundation, December 5-19, 2019)
Visited Israel in the past year | 7% |
Visited but not in the past year | 33% |
Live in Israel | 4% |
Never | 56% |
How emotionally attached are you to Israel? Very attached, somewhat attached, not very/not at all, or aren't you sure? (Ruderman Family Foundation, December 5-19, 2019)
Very attached | 26% |
Somewhat attached | 41% |
not very/not at all | 31% |
How does the personal connection you feel to Israel compare to what you felt 5 years ago? (Ruderman Family Foundation, December 5-19, 2019)
Much Stronger | 12% |
Stronger | 15% |
About the same | 45% |
Much Weaker | 8% |
Weaker | 12% |
How do you think the relationship between Jews in the U.S. and Israel compare to what it was 5 years ago? (Ruderman Family Foundation, December 5-19, 2019)
Much Stronger | 9% |
Stronger | 14% |
About the same | 28% |
Much Weaker | 7% |
Weaker | 25% |
DK | 17% |
Critical Of At Least Some Government Policies (Ruderman Family Foundation, December 5-19, 2019)
Pro-Israel – Supportive of Policies | 23% |
Pro-Israel – Critical of Some Policies | 28% |
Pro-Israel – Critical of Many Policies | 29% |
Generally not Pro-Israe | 7% |
In terms of national priorities and interests, how important would you rank the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? (The Brookings Institution, December 2014)
Not among the top 5 issues | 41% |
Among the top 5 issues | 37% |
Among the top 3 issues | 16% |
The most important issue in the US | 5% |
Refused to answer | 1% |
What are your views on the following issues? (The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, July 2012)
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Not Sure | Agree | Strongly Agree | |
The Palestinian Authority truly wants peace | 46% | 25% | 24% | 3% | 2% |
The current Israeli government truly wants peace | 2% | 11% | 29% | 32% | 26% |
The Israeli government wants to prevent the emergence of a Palestinian state | 6% | 16% | 32% | 27% | 18% |
The Palestinians seek Israel's destruction | 1% | 3% | 18% | 24% | 54% |
Israel should freeze the expansion of settlements on the West Bank | 10% | 12% | 39% | 23% | 17% |
Please answer the following questions regarding the Israelis and Palestinians: (The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, July 2012)
Who is more to blame for the failure of both sides to reach a peace agreement?
Israelis More to Blame | 1% |
Palestinians More to Blame | 57% |
Both equally | 32% |
Not sure | 10% |
Who should the U.S. support? (The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, July 2012)
US should support Palestinians | 0% |
US should support Israel | 73% |
Both Equally | 17% |
Not sure | 9% |