Pew Survey: 60% of Americans View Israel Unfavorably

A new Pew Research Center survey reveals that a majority of Americans now hold unfavorable views of Israel, marking a notable shift in public opinion amid ongoing regional conflicts. Conducted from March 23 to 29, 2026, among 3,507 U.S. adults, the poll found that 60 percent express an unfavorable opinion of the country, up from 53 percent the previous year and 42 percent in 2022. The survey, released this week, also shows 59 percent of respondents have little or no confidence in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ability to handle world affairs, an increase of 7 percentage points from last year.

The decline in favorable views spans political parties and age groups, with particularly pronounced changes among younger adults. For the first time, majorities of people under 50 in both the Democratic and Republican parties rate Israel negatively. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 80 percent overall hold unfavorable views, rising to 84 percent among those under 50. Republicans and Republican-leaning independents remain more divided, with 58 percent favorable and 41 percent unfavorable overall, but 57 percent of Republicans under 50 express negative...