Public support for Israel is declining sharply among American voters, particularly younger ones. A recent Pew Research Center survey shows that 60% of U.S. adults now hold an unfavorable view of Israel, a seven-point increase from last year.
These findings were released shortly after the House Committee on Education and Workforce issued a nearly 60-page report examining the rise of pro-Hamas and anti-Israel activity on college campuses following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Titled How Campuses Became Hotbeds: The Rise of Radical Antisemitism on College Campuses, the report evaluates whether universities complied with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which requires institutions receiving federal funds to prevent discrimination and harassment based on race, color, or national origin.
Based on a year of hearings and investigations at numerous institutions, including Harvard, MIT, Georgetown, Northwestern, UC Berkeley, and others, the committee concluded that campus leadership broadly failed to address antisemitism. The report outlines four key findings: insufficient action by university leaders; faculty involvement in legitimizing and promoting antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric; student organizations, particularly Students for Justice in Palestine, acting as primary organizers of harassment and protests; and the proliferation of antisemitic programming at U.S. university satellite campuses in the Middle East, notably in Qatar.
The committee recommended stronger enforcement of campus conduct policies, meaningful discipline for harassment and violence, greater oversight of overseas campuses, and increased scrutiny of faculty social media activity. It concluded that failure to uphold Title VI obligations not only endangers Jewish students but undermines fundamental principles of equal protection and nondiscrimination.
Among Democrats, unfavorable views of Israel are overwhelming. Eight in ten Democrats view Israel negatively, including 84% of those under 50 and 76% of those 50 and older. Republicans show a deeper generational divide. While only 24% of Republicans aged 50 and over hold unfavorable views, a majority (57%) of Republicans under 50 now do, up from 50% a year ago.
Religious affiliation also plays a strong role in views toward Israel. Only Jews (64%) and white evangelical Protestants (65%) express net favorable opinions. Favorability is significantly lower among white mainline Protestants (39%), Catholics (35%), Black Protestants (33%), atheists and agnostics (22%), and Muslims (4%).
To date, President Donald Trump has been a staunch ally for the nation of Israel in both of his terms. However, these numbers show a dramatic shift incoming for relations between the US and Israel. If these numbers are correct, then there is a large majority of people under the age of 50, on both political sides, that hold unfavorable views of Israel.
As the older generations pass away, if there is not a major shift in attitudes, then it will be untenable for any politician to defend Israel in the way President Trump is currently doing. It would simply be political suicide to do so. Perhaps this is the reason that in the prophecies of the end times that describe Israel, there is no mention of the United States there to help them. Instead, God is their protector and defender, the only one to help them.
Biblical Connection: The Bible clearly states in Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” And Psalm 122:6 instructs us to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” There are specific blessings and curses that come with a nation’s support or lack thereof for Israel.
PRAY: Pray that the belief rising in America calling Israel evil will be quenched and for younger generations to support and seek God’s favor and protection for Israel.