A new NBC News poll reveals a stunning reversal in American attitudes toward Israel, with negative views now outpacing positive ones for the first time in decades as Democrats and independents dramatically shift their positions on the longstanding U.S. ally.

Sharp Decline Across Political Landscape

Only 32 percent of Americans now view Israel positively, while 39 percent hold negative views, according to the NBC News survey conducted from February 27 to March 2. This marks a dramatic reversal from three years ago, when Americans favored Israel by a 47 to 34 percent margin. The shift represents one of the most significant changes in public opinion toward a key U.S. ally in recent polling history.

SHIFTING ALLEGIANCES: Support for Israel plummets to 32% among Americans, down from 47% three years ago, as Democrats' positive views collapse to just 13% — a dramatic 21-point drop. https://t.co/GIruxnktvj

— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) March 16, 2026

Democrats drove much of this change. In 2023, the party was evenly split, with 34 percent viewing Israel positively and 35 percent negatively. Today, just 13 percent of Democrats hold positive views, while 57 percent see Israel negatively. Independents similarly shifted from a 40 to 22 percent positive margin to 21 to 48 percent favoring negative views. Republicans remained largely steady, declining only slightly from 63 to 12 percent positive to 54 to 18 percent.

Sympathy Gap Narrows Between Israel and Palestinians

The poll also tracked American sympathies between Israelis and Palestinians. In 2013, Americans favored Israel by a commanding 45 to 13 percent margin. Now, the nation stands virtually divided at 40 percent sympathizing more with Israel and 39 percent with the Palestinians. Democrats flipped dramatically from favoring Israel 34 to 18 percent in 2013 to now sympathizing with Palestinians by a 67 to 17 percent margin.

War’s Impact Divides Democratic Party

The survey of roughly 1,200 respondents comes two and a half years after Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people and captured 251 others in its October 2023 attack on Israel. The subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza has resulted in more than 72,000 deaths, according to Palestinian health officials. These developments have sparked intense debates within Democratic ranks, now playing out prominently in the party’s 2026 primary elections. The poll highlights a pronounced generational divide, with younger Americans showing greater deterioration in positive views toward Israel compared to older age groups.