Gallup World Affairs Survey
February 1-20, 2024
The Details
1. Americans' views of Israel and the Palestinian Authority have declined:
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The percentage of Americans with a "very" or "mostly favorable" view of Israel has dropped from 68% to 58%, the lowest rating in over two decades.
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Positive opinions of the Palestinian Authority have also decreased from 26% to 18%, the lowest since 2015.
2. Young adults' opinions of Israel have plummeted:
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Among 18- to 34-year-olds, favorable ratings of Israel have dropped from 64% to 38%.
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Middle-aged adults (35-54) also show a significant drop, from 66% to 55%.
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Older Americans (55 and older) have seen no meaningful change in their views.
3. Americans are divided on which side to pressure for a resolution:
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When asked whether the U.S. should put more pressure on the Palestinians or Israelis, Americans are almost evenly split, with 39% favoring pressuring the Palestinians and 36% favoring pressuring the Israelis.
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Young adults and Democrats are more likely to believe the U.S. should pressure the Israelis, while Republicans and older Americans lean towards pressuring the Palestinians.
4. Americans view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a critical U.S. threat:
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52% of Americans see the conflict as a critical threat to U.S. vital interests, up from 35% two years ago. Another 38% view it as an important threat.
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Democrats, Republicans, and independents largely agree on the level of threat posed by the conflict.
5. Americans still favor a two-state solution:
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53% of Americans continue to support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, while 34% are opposed.
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Democrats are more likely to support a Palestinian state, while Republicans are more likely to oppose it.
Key Takeaways
Americans' opinions of both Israel and the Palestinian Authority have worsened, with Israel's favorability reaching its lowest point in over two decades. The pro-Israel community must recognize we have reached the point where we need to shift to a more targeted messaging campaign, to keep those who are in our favor on our side. The fact that both governments are being viewed less favorably indicates a lack of trust amongst Americans in the current leadership of either side to this war.
Young adults show the most significant decline in favorable views towards Israel, while older Americans remain more supportive. The results echo what all the other polls have shown – we see this as a continued manifestation of the impact of social media on this age group. We remind our readers that while this is the most important demographic to invest in for the long-term, we should not be distracted by what’s happening with them and ignore the older age cohorts who are already more supportive or more open to be sympathetic towards Israel’s plight.
Despite the recent conflict, Americans' sympathies remain more aligned with Israel than with the Palestinians, although the gap has narrowed in recent years. With this in mind, don’t lose hope and get overly concerned about the results. They are important to consider, and sound a major alarm, but they should not cloud our judgment on how to proceed in terms of Israel’s messaging.
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