The war in Gaza has severely damaged Israel’s reputation among U.S. citizens, creating an urgent challenge to repair the relationship.
Reputation: Israel’s standing in the United States is described as “in tatters.”
Polls: A New York Times poll found that slightly more voters side with the Palestinians than with Israelis, a shift that had not occurred since 1998.
Shifts in American Support
American Jews: A majority have become sharply critical of Prime Minister Netanyahu, with a majority believing Israel has committed war crimes and four in ten believing it is guilty of genocide (a charge Israel denies).
Political Fallout: The shift creates pressure for moderate Democrats in Congress to consider curtailing U.S. military aid.
Younger Generations: Support is increasingly fractured along bipartisan lines, with younger evangelical Christians and those under 30 largely breaking with Israel and viewing it as an oppressor or villain.
Divergent Views on Repairing Ties
Perspective Key Argument Proponent
Pessimistic The war has created a “paradigmatic Gaza generation” that views Israel as a villain, a perception unlikely to fade. The conflict is seen as “genocide in real time,” amplified by new media. Shibley Telhami, Yossi Klein Halevi
Optimistic An end to the fighting and the cessation of horrific images could allow for a “bounce-back” or “reset” in public opinion, allowing supporters to return to their “comfort zone.” Halie Soifer, Dahlia Scheindlin
The Foundation of the U.S.-Israel Relationship
While shared ideals are now strained due to political polarization in both countries, the bedrock of the relationship remains shared national interests:
Security Cooperation: Deep, mutually beneficial collaborations exist between the two countries’ intelligence, military, and technology sectors.
Strategic Asset: Israel is viewed as an asset in the competition against China and central to American interests in the Middle East.
High Stakes and Future Outlook
Existential Need: Experts agree that Israel has “no hedging strategy” and absolutely needs the U.S. alliance; maintaining American support is perceived as an “existential threat” to Israel.
Potential Change: Future Israeli elections could offer a path to repair ties, especially if a new government rejects political extremes and reflects a broad middle ground.
Path Forward: An end to the war is necessary to shift the conversation from the war’s conduct to “what’s next” for the region and Gaza.
