Bibi torched U.S. support for Israel for a generation
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Getty Images
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wreaking havoc on Israel's standing with Americans as the Iran war supercharges a deterioration in relations with the U.S.
Why it matters: Israel's polling collapse among younger Americans is hitting Congress, too. Lawmakers who started out staunchly pro-Israel are becoming increasingly vocal critics.
- "We need to have a discussion about how to normalize that relationship and what change is necessary; there's no doubt about that," Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) told Axios.
Zoom in: Every Senate Democrat who's eyeing a 2028 presidential run voted against arms sales to Israel in votes earlier this week.
- 40 Senate Dems voted on a resolution to block arms sales to Israel, up from just 15 on a similar vote last April.
- Netanyahu is "destroying the bipartisan nature in terms of support for Israel," Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) told Punchbowl News.
Over in the House, some Democrats are turning against defensive support, including funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.
- That was "seen as insanely fringe four years ago," Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) told Axios.
- But multiple Democrats who voted for Iron Dome in 2021 told Axios they're done providing financial aid.
The big picture: Older Republicans and white Evangelicals are the last groups to hold majority favorable views of Israel, according to recent Pew polling.
For every other group, Israel's favorability has collapsed since 2022.
- ⬇️ Down 31 percentage points among older Democrats (ages 50+).
- ⬇️ Down 22 percentage points among both younger Republicans/GOP leaners and younger Dems/Dem leaners.
- ⬇️ Down 14 percentage points among Protestants, 23 among Catholics and 20 among the religiously unaffiliated.
- ⬇️ Even white Evangelical support, which was at 80% in 2022, has slid by 15 points.
