SAEDNEWS: Negative attitudes toward Israel in the United States have reached their highest level in 25 years, according to polls.
On September 14th, after showing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio the massive, 2,000-year-old stones of Jerusalem’s Western Wall, Binyamin Netanyahu hailed the U.S.-Israel alliance as “as strong and as durable as the stones…we just touched.” Yet, The Economist argues this confidence is misplaced.
As Israel faces increasing international isolation over its Gaza war, its dependence on America has grown—but American public opinion is shifting dramatically. During the current UN General Assembly, countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada, and France are expected to recognize a Palestinian state, even as Israeli settlements expand in the West Bank. This makes real Palestinian statehood less likely, leaving U.S. support as Israel’s key shield against pariah status.
Despite Netanyahu’s reassurances, the U.S.-Israel relationship shows cracks. Democratic voters have been drifting away, while Republican support is weakening among younger generations. A YouGov/Economist poll reveals that 53% of Americans now view Israel unfavorably (up from 42% in 2022), with 43% believing Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Among Democrats over 50, negative perceptions rose by 23 points in three years, while support among Republicans under 50 is evenly split compared to 63% in 2022. Evangelicals under 30 who backed Israel over Palestinians dropped from 69% to 34% between 2018 and 2021.
The main catalyst? Shocking images of devastation and civilian casualties in Gaza, which have stirred moral outrage among American youth, university communities, and urban voters, highlighting concerns over human rights and America’s unequal stance on the conflict.
This generational and partisan divide signals that reliance on Washington’s formal support is no longer a guarantee of legitimacy. The Israeli regime now faces strategic risks: continued hardware-driven responses could deepen isolation and reduce lobbying influence in Congress.
The Economist’s conclusion: Israel must address the humanitarian and moral concerns of the American public or risk losing political capital with its most important ally. The historic bond alone is no longer enough.
