Is Israel a democracy? Here's what Americans think

Key Findings:

Recent protests in Israel in opposition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed judicial reforms have drawn international attention. These protests, which raised concerns over threats to the judiciary, coincided with rising violence in the occupied Palestinian territories. Notably, while the protests largely ignored Israel's treatment of Palestinians, they highlighted concerns regarding the country’s democratic health within its pre-1967 borders. It remains unclear how these protests have affected American perceptions of Israel.

Respondents were asked whether they viewed Israel as a vibrant democracy, a flawed democracy, a state with restricted minority rights, or akin to apartheid. Notably, over half of the participants, especially Republicans, were uncertain or declined to answer. Among those expressing an opinion, 31% viewed Israel as either a flawed democracy or similar to apartheid. Among Republicans, 41% described it as a vibrant democracy, while a plurality of Democrats (44%) associated it with apartheid.

The poll revealed a significant partisan divide, with Republicans more likely to view Israel positively, while Democrats expressed more critical views, including support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement aimed at Israel. Additionally, while the poll showed minimal shifts in Americans’ preferred U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, younger Republicans and Democrats exhibited a growing divergence in support for Israel. The findings indicate evolving attitudes, particularly as terms like "apartheid" become more accepted in U.S. discourse regarding Israel.