New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has a higher favorability rating among Jewish Americans than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This comes despite Mamdani facing criticism over his views on Israel and the Gaza conflict. A recent AP-NORC poll highlights the increasingly complex perspectives of American Jews toward political figures in Israel and the U.S.
Poll Findings
The survey reveals that Democratic support for Palestinians is rising, while support for Israel is decreasing within the party. Mamdani’s controversial stance on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian issue has drawn attention. He has previously refrained from condemning the phrase “globalize the intifada,” stating he avoids policing language. Nonetheless, he condemns antisemitism and violence against Jewish individuals. His comments have been criticized by leaders who interpret the phrase as inciting violence against Jews.
Mamdani later advised against using the term during a meeting with business leaders, as reported by The New York Times. Recently, he condemned antisemitic vandalism in New York City and reassured Jewish voters of his commitment to their safety and security. This includes investing in hate-crime prevention and revoking certain Israel-related executive orders enacted by former Mayor Eric Adams. Newsweek reached out to Mamdani’s office for further comments.
Survey Results
According to the AP-NORC poll, 32% of Jewish adults have a favorable view of Netanyahu, while 59% hold an unfavorable view. In contrast, Mamdani’s favorability stands at 44%, with 39% viewing him unfavorably. Mamdani’s net favorability is 5%, whereas Netanyahu’s is -27%.
The poll also indicates that 38% of participants perceive the United States as too supportive of Israel, contrasted by 24% who believe it’s too supportive of Palestinians. Regarding whether Israel’s actions constitute genocide against Palestinians, 30% of Jewish adults agree, 49% disagree, and 21% feel uninformed to answer.
The survey demonstrates that 59% of Jewish adults identify as Democrats, 27% as Republicans, and 14% as independent or undecided. Conducted from June 11 to June 17, the study sampled 1,022 Jewish adults with a 5% margin of error.
Changing Attitudes Among Democrats
The Associated Press points out a shift in Democratic views since early 2024. Close to 60% now believe the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, compared to 45% in January 2024 during former President Joe Biden’s administration. Among Jewish Democrats, 51% echo this sentiment in the new poll.
Conversely, 62% of Democrats feel the U.S. is “not supportive enough” of Palestinians, a rise from 49% two years ago.
The poll further shows that 40% of Jewish adults approve of President Donald Trump’s approach to Israel, whereas 58% disapprove. These findings highlight the complex political landscape concerning Israel among American Jews and Democrats.
Comparison of Favorability
A Harvard/Harris poll conducted in the spring showed Mamdani with a 24% favorability rating versus a 33% unfavorable rating. Netanyahu had a 27% favorable score against a 34% unfavorable rating. Mamdani’s net favorability was -9%, while Netanyahu’s was -7%. The survey included 2,746 registered voters with a 1.87% margin of error.
Netanyahu’s Response
Netanyahu criticized Mamdani’s stance on Israel during a CNN interview, calling the democratic socialist’s views “absurd.” Mamdani supports Israel’s existence but opposes a state privileging one religion over others. He advocates for equal rights within the state. Netanyahu contends that Israel, like the United States, is an imperfect democracy.
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