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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
Feb. 2020

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
Feb. 2020

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%