The Wall Street Journal has published a report saying that Israel’s standing in America is collapsing and that American public opinion has turned against Israel, particularly among young people, as a result of the war in Gaza.
It also said there are growing calls among the public to halt US aid to Israel or impose conditions on such assistance.
The analysis, written by William Galston under the headline ‘Why Much of America Soured on Israel’, says the 1967 Six-Day War strengthened American support for Israel, while the Gaza war has damaged that support.
Galston writes that the outcome of the 1967 war, which appeared almost miraculous, gave Israel a central place in the identity of a generation of American Jews.
The United States, meanwhile, viewed Israel’s display of military capabilities as evidence that it could be an important ally in a turbulent region.
But the prolonged war against Hamas has placed severe strain on US-Israeli relations, particularly as perceptions have grown that Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks has become disproportionate.
Images of Gaza’s devastated cities and reports of civilian casualties have also contributed to a broad shift in American public opinion.
According to an AP-NORC poll, the shift has extended to American Jews, with only 42 per cent supporting the continuation of military operations against Hamas, compared with 73pc who initially supported Israel’s response to the Hamas attack, while 16pc opposed it.
Disappointing results from the war against Iran have further compounded the situation.
Galston says the shift in public opinion has also been reflected in US policy. According to a Marquette Law School poll, when the Gaza war began, only 28pc of Americans believed the United States was providing Israel with more military aid than it needed. That figure has now risen to 52pc.
According to the Institute of Global Affairs, only 16pc of Americans believe aid to Israel should be unconditional, while 24pc believe it should be tied to conditions, and 38pc support ending the aid altogether.
The analysis calls for arms sales to be made conditional, pressure to be exerted to halt settlement expansion and settler violence and support for the establishment of a demilitarised Palestinian entity with sovereignty that recognises Israel’s right to exist.
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