Israel’s image significantly damaged in American opinion

According to Romuald Sciora, director of the United States Political and Geostrategic Observatory at IRIS, “on the part of the American population in general, there is more and more disavowal of Israel.” Speaking on France Info, he describes a significant change in opinion, particularly among younger generations. Israel is no longer perceived as “the little brother (…) protected by the United States”, he explains. “American youth today have a different perception of Israel. It is no longer the small country that was created by the strength of the survivors of Auschwitz,” he further asserts. “They perceive it as a sometimes oppressive, colonizing country,” adding that Benjamin Netanyahu “gave Israel a genocidal face (…) for these young people.”

Romuald Sciora on Israel’s unpopularity in the United States: “Netanyahu has given Israel a genocidal face for these young people” pic.twitter.com/heTNrOZAkC

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Romuald Sciora also highlights a turning point within the American Jewish community. “They have always very often supported Israel. Today things have changed,” he observes. According to him, a majority now says they are opposed “not to Israel obviously but to Netanyahu’s policies and the continuation of colonization”. Mobilizations, notably under the slogan “Not in my name”, illustrated this distancing.

This development marks a clearer shift in American opinion, especially among young people and in circles that have long been pro-Israeli. Benjamin Netanyahu is increasingly directly targeted: his choices are accused of having greatly damaged Israel’s image, by reinforcing criticism of colonization, war and, for some, accusations of genocidal excesses. On the left, within the Democratic Party, figures like Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar or Bernie Sanders are raising their voices. They denounce Israeli policy and call for reviewing, or even conditioning, American support. A position that was once marginal but now more visible, especially among young elected officials and activists.

On the right too, voices are being heard. In the MAGA movement, part of the base and certain figures are increasingly critical of Israel, denouncing an alignment deemed excessive and the cost of external commitments. A line that is still in the minority, but which contributes to trivializing criticism.

In the end, the protest widened on both camps. It could weigh more on the American political debate, where support for Israel appears less and less automatic.