According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is viewed more negatively than positively by Americans. The survey revealed that 42% of Americans do not trust him, while 32% have confidence in him.
The survey also highlighted a significant divide between Republicans and Democrats on their views of Netanyahu. Among Republicans, six out of ten conservative Republicans have confidence in him, while only three out of ten moderate and liberal Republicans do. In contrast, only a quarter of conservative and moderate Democrats favor Netanyahu, compared to just one in ten liberal Democrats.
Interestingly, younger Republicans, aged 18 to 49, are less positive about Netanyahu than older Republicans, mainly due to their lack of knowledge about him. The survey found that 35% of young Republicans had never heard of him. Nonetheless, only three out of ten Republicans in this age group expressed confidence in Netanyahu, far less than the 66% among Republicans aged 50 and older.
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The survey results may have implications for Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to the White House, which is expected to occur by the month’s end. While he may receive a warm welcome from conservative Republicans, he will likely face a more skeptical audience among Democrats and younger Republicans.
- The Pew Research Center survey was conducted from February 1 to 7, 2021, among 10,066 adults in the United States. The margin of error for the full sample is +/- 1.5 percentage points.
- The survey also asked Americans about their overall views of Israel and the Palestinian territories. It found that 44% of Americans have a favorable view of Israel, while 32% have an unfavorable view. By contrast, only 20% of Americans have a favorable view of the Palestinian territories, while 48% have a negative view.
- The survey results reflect a broader trend in recent years of declining support for Israel among younger Americans, particularly those who identify as progressive or left-leaning. This shift has been attributed to a number of factors, including the Israeli government’s policies towards the Palestinians, the growth of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, and the rise of intersectional politics that link struggles for social justice across different groups.
- The survey also comes during political uncertainty in Israel, where Netanyahu has been facing a series of corruption charges and a protracted period of political deadlock. In March 2021, Israelis went to the polls for the fourth time in two years, with no clear winner emerging from the election. Netanyahu remains the caretaker prime minister while a new government is formed.
