In recent years, Democrats in the United States have become less supportive of Israel than in years past. A Pew Research Center survey from 2018 showed that only 40% of Democrats sympathized more with Israel than the Palestinians, while 48% sympathized more with the Palestinians. This is a sharp contrast to the previous decades of strong bipartisan support for Israel from American lawmakers.
The growing divide between Democrats and Israel is due to a number of factors. One of the primary reasons is the ongoing tensions in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Palestine. The conflict has become increasingly violent, and Democrats have grown increasingly vocal in their criticism of Israeli policies, including the expansion of West Bank settlements and Israel’s tactics against Palestinian protesters.
Additionally, as Americans become more politically polarized, that polarization is playing out in how they view foreign policies, including those concerning Israel and Palestine. In particular, younger Democrats are less likely to have a positive view of Israel and more likely to sympathize with Palestinians.
Finally, the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and other progressive movements has led to increased criticism of Israel. The DSA and other progressive groups have been critical of Israel’s human rights record and its strategies in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and those criticisms have been reflected in the party platform.
