Poll Reveals Sharp Divides Among US Jews on Israel and Gaza

A comprehensive new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has laid bare profound divisions within the American Jewish community over Israel, the war in Gaza, and the very meaning of Jewish identity in the United States. The poll, conducted June 11-17 among 3,040 U.S. adults — including 1,022 Jewish adults — reveals that the most significant fault lines run between religiously affiliated Jews and those who identify as Jewish through ethnic, cultural, or family ties.

A Community Divided by Religiosity

About 7 in 10 Jewish adults identify as Jewish by religion, while roughly 3 in 10 describe themselves as Jewish through cultural or family background while being atheist, agnostic, or religiously unaffiliated. According to AP News, these two groups hold starkly different views on nearly every question about Israel.

Forty percent of religiously affiliated Jewish adults feel very or extremely emotionally attached to Israel, compared with just 11% of secular Jews. Conversely, 45% of secular Jews say they feel no connection to Israel at all. When asked whether supporting Israel is a key part of their Jewish identity, 48% of religious Jews agreed — versus only 12% of secular Jews.

Generational and Ideological Splits

The survey also highlights a significant generational divide. Thirty-seven percent of Jewish adults under age 45 say Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, compared to 23% of those 45 or older. Overall, about 30% of Jewish adults believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians, while 49% say it has not.

On Israel’s military operations, 52% of religious Jews say the ongoing campaign in Gaza is justified, while only 21% of secular Jews agree. Sixty percent of religious Jews reject the genocide accusation, compared to just 27% of secular Jews.

Personal Relationships Under Strain

The conflict is taking a toll on personal relationships within the community. According to the AP-NORC Center, 55% of Jewish adults say they have been offended by someone’s comments about Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. About 4 in 10 have unfollowed or blocked someone on social media or disagreed with family members over Israel, and 3 in 10 have stopped talking to someone entirely because of disagreements about the conflict.

Shainah Horowitz, 45, a Conservative synagogue member from Portland, Oregon, told AP she cannot discuss Israel with certain friends. “I cannot have conversations with certain friends — non-Jews and some very secular Jews who buy into the anti-Israel slant,” she said.

Netanyahu Unpopular; Mamdani Viewed Favorably

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is broadly unpopular among American Jews. About 6 in 10 Jewish adults view him unfavorably, while only about one-third view him favorably. Among all U.S. adults, just 20% have a favorable opinion of Netanyahu.

In a striking contrast, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — a Muslim Democrat and outspoken Israel critic — is viewed favorably by 44% of Jewish adults, compared to 39% who view him unfavorably. Among all U.S. adults, 27% view Mamdani favorably, 28% unfavorably, and 44% don’t know enough to say.

Shifting Political Landscape

The poll reveals a dramatic shift within the Democratic Party. As the Times of Israel reported, 58% of Democrats now say the U.S. is “too supportive” of Israel, up from 45% in January 2024. Meanwhile, 62% say the U.S. is “not supportive enough” of Palestinians, up from 49% in 2024.

Among Republicans, 60% say U.S. support for Israel is “about right,” though a generational gap is emerging: about 20% of Republicans under 45 say Israel has committed genocide, compared to roughly 10% of those 45 and older.

Broader Implications

The findings come at a pivotal moment. With high-stakes midterm elections approaching in November 2026, the U.S.-Israel relationship has become an increasingly polarizing issue. Vice President JD Vance recently criticized Israeli leaders who expressed frustration with the Trump administration, while vocal critics of Israel have defeated establishment-backed Democrats in recent primaries in New York and Colorado.

Rabbi Seth Adelson of Congregation Beth Shalom in Pittsburgh offered a reflection on the deepening divide: “In recent years, perhaps due to the complexity of that region, due to the challenges faced by modern states, religious Jews have been more likely to hold on to our ancient stories, and Jews of no religion have been less likely to hold on to those stories.”

What to Watch

As the war in Gaza continues and the 2026 midterms draw closer, the divisions documented by this poll are likely to intensify. The survey raises fundamental questions about how Jewish communal institutions will navigate internal fractures, how U.S. policy toward Israel may evolve, and whether the generational gap in attitudes toward Israel will widen further or narrow over time.