A worrying survey for Israelis: most Americans prefer the Palestinians

Gallup’s annual poll, conducted recently, indicates a distinct change in American public opinion towards the conflict in the Middle East. For the first time since tracking began in 2001, more Americans express sympathy for the Palestinians than for the Israelis. While in previous years Israel enjoyed considerable support among the American public, now there is a change indicating support of 41% for the Palestinians compared to 36% for the Israelis, as reported in the Financial Times.

The preference for both sides indicates large differences between the opinions in the various parties. Among Democrats, support for the Palestinians is very high, with 65% expressing sympathy for them, compared to only 17% who support Israel. On the other hand, among Republicans there was a significant decrease in sympathy for Israel. According to the survey, 30% of Republicans now support the Palestinians, compared to 41% who support Israel, a decrease of 10 points since 2024.

Among the independent voters, who were a major factor in this change, there is a preference for the Palestinians, with 41% of them expressing support for the Palestinians, compared to 30% who support Israel. This change is particularly noticeable compared to last year, when the preference was actually in favor of Israel.

The differences in priorities between the Democrats and the Republicans, together with the decrease in sympathy for Israel among a part of the Republican public, indicate a change in the American political map, which may continue to shape opinions towards the conflict for years to come.