The Associated Press and NORC conducted a survey of 1,022 Jewish adults in the United States to document their perspectives on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, their evaluations of political parties and leadership, and their encounters with prejudice. The survey encompassed both religiously affiliated Jews and those who identify as Jewish through cultural, ethnic, or family connections.
Among respondents with religious affiliation, perspectives on Israel’s military operations diverged significantly. Approximately 8 in 10 religiously affiliated Jewish adults deemed Israel’s initial military response to Hamas’ attack justified, yet only about half supported the continuation of military operations in Gaza. The pattern differed among religiously unaffiliated Jewish adults, with roughly half viewing the initial response as justified and approximately 2 in 10 approving of ongoing operations. Regarding allegations of genocide, roughly one-quarter of religiously affiliated Jewish adults and approximately 4 in 10 unaffiliated Jewish adults believed Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians, a charge disputed by Israel and the U.S. government.
Concerns about safety and prejudice emerged prominently in the findings. Approximately 6 in 10 Jewish adults characterized prejudice against Jewish people as a serious problem in the United States. Around one-third reported feeling safe as Jewish Americans, while another third expressed feeling unsafe, with the remaining respondents neutral. Notably, about 3 in 10 Jewish adults indicated they or household members had experienced physical assault, verbal abuse, online harassment, or property damage due to their Jewish identity within the past year.
Regarding political leadership, few Jewish adults expressed confidence in Trump, the Republican Party, or the Democratic Party regarding support for Jewish Americans. Only about 2 in 10 Jewish adults rated Trump as highly supportive, with approximately 7 in 10 holding unfavorable views of him. Jewish adults demonstrated more openness toward Democratic Party support compared to Republican support, though majorities remained skeptical of both.
Generational divides emerged on Israel-related priorities. Approximately half of religiously affiliated Jewish adults aged 45 and older identified supporting Israel as extremely or very important to their Jewish identity, compared to about 4 in 10 younger adults. Younger Jewish adults prioritized other connections, with roughly 7 in 10 under 45 emphasizing Jewish holiday celebrations as central to their identity, compared to half of older respondents.
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