After two grueling years of conflict, the war in Gaza appears to be drawing to a close. Yet, the extensive bloodshed and devastation have left a profound mark, particularly on Israel’s vital relationship with its closest and most steadfast ally, the United States.
Israel’s standing among Americans is severely bruised, extending far beyond university campuses and progressive circles. A recent New York Times poll revealed a significant shift: for the first time since polling began in 1998, a slight majority of U.S. voters now sympathize more with Palestinians than with Israelis.
Historically Israel’s staunchest supporters at home, American Jews are now openly critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his conservative government’s handling of the Gaza war. A Washington Post survey indicates that a majority believe Israel has engaged in war crimes, citing the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians and severe restrictions on aid. Four in ten even suspect genocide, an accusation Israel vehemently denies. This change is prompting even centrist Democrats in Congress to consider a tougher stance, potentially including reductions in U.S. military assistance.
The erosion of support is also becoming increasingly bipartisan. While Republicans have attempted to align their party with Israel and criticize Democrats for supposedly aiding its adversaries, younger evangelical Christians are diverging from their elders. They increasingly perceive Israel as an oppressor, not a victim, a sentiment that is spreading beyond evangelical communities.
As conservative commentator Megyn Kelly remarked on a recent podcast, “Everybody under 30 is against Israel.”
The critical question remains: can Israel win back these younger Americans, or are they a lost generation? And what strategies will Israel’s supporters employ to try and mend these fractured relationships?
However, Shibley Telhami, a respected pollster and scholar of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the University of Maryland, believes the damage might be irreversible.
“We are witnessing the emergence of a ‘Gaza generation,’ similar to how past generations were defined by Vietnam or Pearl Harbor,” Telhami stated. “There’s a pervasive feeling that what’s unfolding is genocide in real time, intensely amplified by modern media — a factor absent during the Vietnam era. This new generation views Israel as a villain, and that perception is unlikely to fade.”
Yossi Klein Halevi, an Israeli writer born in America, recently observed during a U.S. campus tour that the influence of anti-Zionist activists extended significantly to their less politically engaged peers, beyond just their own fervent rhetoric.
“Students are internalizing the damaging notion that a Jewish state is fundamentally illegitimate,” Halevi explained. “My primary concern is this widespread perception that Israel is viewed with a ‘bad odor.’”
Conversely, some believe that an end to the hostilities and the constant stream of grim images from Gaza could provide an opportunity for Israel’s American supporters to regain influence.
Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, expressed optimism: “I do anticipate a degree of reset in how Israel is perceived.”
Dahlia Scheindlin, an American-born Israeli pollster and visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, echoed this sentiment: “There’s definitely potential for a rebound. People often overstate the extent of the damage. Simply halting the violence could enable many to revert to their usual supportive stance.”
This more hopeful outlook rests on the conviction that the core of the U.S.-Israeli relationship remains strong.
This is particularly evident in their shared national interests, such as the extensive, mutually beneficial cooperation between their intelligence agencies, military forces, and technology sectors — partnerships often more apparent to government insiders than to the general public.
Avner Golov, a former Israeli National Security Council official and current analyst at MIND Israel, a Tel Aviv think tank, highlighted Israel’s strategic importance. “We serve as a crucial asset in the global power competition with China, central to American interests in the Middle East,” he explained.
Golov reflected on historical aspirations: “My grandfather’s only dream when he arrived here was a safe haven for Jews. He could never have imagined that Israeli innovation would eventually play such a pivotal role in global order and in maintaining U.S. strategic advantage.”
However, it’s becoming less certain that these shared historical ideals — of being a promised land for the persecuted, a shining example for other nations — can continue to form the bedrock of a strong relationship between the two countries.
Halevi, a fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, noted that these foundational aims are now fiercely debated within both politically polarized nations.
He described one narrative as the liberal Israeli story: a Jewish state founded after the Holocaust, striving for liberal values despite persistent challenges. This narrative, which Halevi personally identifies with, resonates deeply with Democrats.
Conversely, the Israeli government often frames itself as America’s “bulwark against the Muslim world,” a perspective that finds strong resonance among the American right.
“It’s incredibly difficult to build a relationship between two nations based on shared values,” he concluded, “when neither nation can internally agree upon its own fundamental values.”
Experts suggest that upcoming Israeli elections could be a turning point, not only if Prime Minister Netanyahu is replaced, but also if a new government emerges that represents the nation’s diverse political center.
Golov observed that recent polls signal a rejection of political extremes. He also praised Israel’s democratic resilience, even in comparison to America’s current state, noting how widespread protests in Israel pressured Netanyahu and, notably, encouraged Trump to facilitate an end to the conflict.
“This is a success story of an Israeli public that, while sending its youth to Gaza, also protests every single week,” he stated, emphasizing, “and not a single shot was fired.”
“If these protests prove successful, which I believe they will,” Golov added, “it will be impossible to claim that Israeli society has lost its liberal essence. I believe it has been rekindled.”
Despite the immense challenge of repairing ties and winning back American support post-war, experts concur that Israel has no alternative but to try. This imperative stems from the significant international isolation Prime Minister Netanyahu’s leadership has caused.
Ted Sasson, a professor at Middlebury College and a fellow at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, remarked, “Israel possesses no alternative strategy. It is absolutely dependent on the U.S., with no other allies to turn to. Its commitment to this alliance is unwavering, and it must intensify efforts to secure the same level of congressional and presidential support previously offered by Biden and Trump.”
Ted Deutch, president of the American Jewish Committee, believes the end of the war will eventually shift global attention away from Israel’s wartime actions. He looks forward to a time when “the humanitarian crisis improves, hostages are freed, and Arab nations contribute to Gaza’s future.” At that point, he suggested, “the discussion can transition to future possibilities for the region and for Gaza.”
William Daroff, chief executive of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, a prominent lobbying group, expressed a newfound optimism: “I am more hopeful today than I have been in many, many months.”
However, Mort Klein, leader of the right-wing Zionist Organization of America, harbors less optimism. He worries that the conflict has irrevocably tainted perceptions of Israel. “It has devolved into Jew-hatred,” he asserted. “I don’t see a path to resolving that.”
Regardless of optimism or pessimism, one truth remains undeniable: the stakes for Israel and its supporters in the United States are extraordinarily high.
Professor Telhami highlighted Israel’s profound reliance on U.S. support across political, military, and economic spheres throughout the war. He believes this dependence is so stark that Israel will likely perceive a loss of American public opinion as an “existential threat.”
“The ultimate goal of preserving American support for Israel is paramount,” he concluded, “because the struggle for Israel’s image in America is seen as an integral part of Israel’s very survival.”