Democrats' Sympathies in Middle East Shift to Palestinians

Key Findings:

The latest Gallup poll, conducted in February 2023, reveals a significant shift in U.S. public opinion regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly among Democrats. For the first time, a plurality of Democrats (49%) express more sympathy toward Palestinians than Israelis (38%), marking an 11-point rise in support for Palestinians over the past year. Independents also show increased sympathy for Palestinians, though 49% still lean toward Israel. Republican views remain consistent, with 78% favoring Israel.

This partisan divide reflects broader trends. Sympathy for Palestinians among U.S. adults is at a record high of 31%, narrowing the gap with Israel, which now holds a 54% sympathy rate. This 23-point difference represents the smallest margin in Israel's favor since Gallup began tracking this issue.

Generational differences are also stark, with millennials evenly divided between supporting Israelis and Palestinians (40% and 42%, respectively), contrasting with older generations who maintain stronger pro-Israel views. While favorability toward Israel remains high across all party lines (68% overall), support for the Palestinian Authority, though lower (26%), has increased, especially among Democrats and independents.

The findings suggest that although Democrats increasingly sympathize with Palestinians, broad favorability toward Israel persists, indicating continued support for solutions that address the concerns of both sides. The shift may be driven by factors such as declining religiosity among Democrats and heightened awareness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly recent hostilities.