Seyit Kurt
16 March 2026•Update: 16 March 2026
- Among Republicans, support for Israel remains strong
ISTANBUL
A new NBC News poll shows a notable shift in American public opinion on the Middle East, with more registered voters expressing sympathy for Palestinians, and unfavorable views of Israel increasing sharply, especially among Democrats and independent voters.
According to the survey conducted Feb. 27-March 3 among 1,000 registered voters nationwide, 40% of respondents said their sympathies lie more with Israelis, compared with 39% who said they sympathize more with Palestinians.
The results mark a dramatic change from 2013, when 45% of voters said they sided more with Israelis while only 13% said they sympathized more with Palestinians.
The poll also shows that overall views of Israel have turned more negative. In 2026, 39% of voters said they view Israel negatively, compared with 32% who expressed a positive view, while 30% said they were unsure or neutral. In 2023, by contrast, 47% of respondents held a positive view and 24% a negative one.
Sharp partisan divide
The survey highlights a widening partisan divide in attitudes toward Israel and the Palestinians.
Among Republicans, support for Israel remains strong. About 69% said they sympathize more with Israelis, while 13% said they sympathize more with Palestinians. Republicans also continue to view Israel favorably overall, with 54% holding positive views.
Democrats, however, have shifted significantly. Two-thirds of Democratic voters now say their sympathies lie more with Palestinians, compared with only 17% who say they sympathize more with Israelis. The poll also found that 57% of Democrats now view Israel negatively.
Independents have also moved away from Israel in recent years. The poll shows 37% of independents sympathize more with Palestinians compared with 27% who sympathize with Israelis. Negative views of Israel among independents rose to 48%, up from 22% in 2023.
Younger voters driving shift
Some of the most notable changes appear among younger Americans.
Nearly two-thirds of voters aged 18-34 now view Israel negatively, according to the survey. In 2023, only 37% of voters in this age group held negative views of Israel. Just 13% of younger voters now say they view Israel positively.
The poll found similar declines in favorable views among voters aged 35-49 and 50-64, though older Americans remain comparatively more supportive. Among voters aged 65 and older, 55% continue to hold positive views of Israel.
Political impact
The shifting public opinion has become a growing issue within US politics, particularly among Democrats, where debates over US policy toward Israel have increasingly shaped congressional primary contests.
NBC News said the poll was conducted via telephone interviews and an online survey sent by text message, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
A ceasefire agreement entered into force in Gaza on Oct. 10, 2025, following the Israeli war that left more than 72,000 Palestinians dead and over 171,000 injured while destroying about 90% of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure, with reconstruction costs estimated by the UN at around $70 billion.
