Two polls of Jewish American opinion—the first since the launch of the Iran war—report widespread opposition to the joint US-Israeli campaign. One poll, conducted by the Mellman group on behalf of the non-partisan Jewish Electorate Institute, reports 55% of Jewish voters disapproving of the military action. The second poll, conducted by the GBAO group on behalf of the liberal advocacy organization, J Street, reports 60% opposed to the war. Both surveys were conducted among likely Jewish voters during the second half of March and have margins of error of 3.5%.
Overall, the views of Jewish Americans about the war appear to closely resemble the views of the broader American public, which in most polls disapproves of the war to a similar extent. The partisan divides are also quite similar. In the Mellman survey, 83% of Jewish Republicans approve of the campaign whereas 74% of Jewish Democrats disapprove. In the GBAO survey, 98% of Republicans support the action whereas 83% of Democrats oppose it.
Although shaped by partisan loyalties, attitudes toward the war also reflect a measure of strategic judgement and concern about possible backlash. In the GBAO survey, 63% of Jewish respondents said “diplomacy and sanctions” are the most effective way to address Iranian threats compared to 37% who favored military action. In the Mellman study, 54% of Jewish respondents said the war is likely to cause “concern about the role of Israel and American Jews in US foreign policy.”
The GBAO survey in particular points to continued erosion of overall Jewish American sentiment about Israel, a process that began during the second year of the Gaza war. In response to a question often asked in surveys of the general public, 30% of the Jewish respondents said that, in the Middle East conflict, their sympathy is more with the Palestinians than the Israelis—a proportion that was even higher among the younger age groups.
Jewish voters were also divided about US financial and military assistance to Israel, with 31% supporting “unconditional” assistance, 44% supporting assistance to Israel “only if they comply with US law,” and 26% opposed to all assistance. Older and more religiously observant (Orthodox and Conservative) Jews were more likely to support “unconditional” financial and military assistance.
The two surveys should serve as a warning sign for Israeli policy makers. Jewish Americans, who are among Israel’s strongest supporters in the United States, are signaling increasing discontent with Israel’s military and strategic direction.
Two polls of Jewish American opinion—the first since the launch of the Iran war—report widespread opposition to the joint US-Israeli campaign. One poll, conducted by the Mellman group on behalf of the non-partisan Jewish Electorate Institute, reports 55% of Jewish voters disapproving of the military action. The second poll, conducted by the GBAO group on behalf of the liberal advocacy organization, J Street, reports 60% opposed to the war. Both surveys were conducted among likely Jewish voters during the second half of March and have margins of error of 3.5%.
Overall, the views of Jewish Americans about the war appear to closely resemble the views of the broader American public, which in most polls disapproves of the war to a similar extent. The partisan divides are also quite similar. In the Mellman survey, 83% of Jewish Republicans approve of the campaign whereas 74% of Jewish Democrats disapprove. In the GBAO survey, 98% of Republicans support the action whereas 83% of Democrats oppose it.
Although shaped by partisan loyalties, attitudes toward the war also reflect a measure of strategic judgement and concern about possible backlash. In the GBAO survey, 63% of Jewish respondents said “diplomacy and sanctions” are the most effective way to address Iranian threats compared to 37% who favored military action. In the Mellman study, 54% of Jewish respondents said the war is likely to cause “concern about the role of Israel and American Jews in US foreign policy.”
The GBAO survey in particular points to continued erosion of overall Jewish American sentiment about Israel, a process that began during the second year of the Gaza war. In response to a question often asked in surveys of the general public, 30% of the Jewish respondents said that, in the Middle East conflict, their sympathy is more with the Palestinians than the Israelis—a proportion that was even higher among the younger age groups.
Jewish voters were also divided about US financial and military assistance to Israel, with 31% supporting “unconditional” assistance, 44% supporting assistance to Israel “only if they comply with US law,” and 26% opposed to all assistance. Older and more religiously observant (Orthodox and Conservative) Jews were more likely to support “unconditional” financial and military assistance.
The two surveys should serve as a warning sign for Israeli policy makers. Jewish Americans, who are among Israel’s strongest supporters in the United States, are signaling increasing discontent with Israel’s military and strategic direction.