Shift in Attitudes Toward Israel: American Republicans Grow Frustrated with Netanyahu

Support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel itself has begun to wane within the American Republican Party. Former President Donald Trump expressed his anger in a phone call with Netanyahu, sharply criticizing him for his lack of cooperation on a ceasefire in Gaza. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 57 percent of Republicans aged 18 to 49 hold a negative view of Israel. June 29, Kathmandu.

Within the Republican Party—historically a stronghold for Netanyahu in American politics—the support for both the Israeli prime minister and his country is weakening. For over 15 years, Netanyahu balanced his declining popularity among Democrats with steadfast Republican backing; however, this new development poses a serious challenge to him. The extensive devastation in Gaza caused by Israeli military actions, coupled with Netanyahu’s resistance to American efforts to end the conflict with Iran, has led to disenchantment among top Republican leaders and younger party members alike.

This political shift has originated at the highest echelons of the Republican Party, as revealed in the recently published book “Regime Change” by journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. The book recounts how, last September, Donald Trump expressed his frustration over Netanyahu’s hesitance to accept a proposed Gaza ceasefire during a phone conversation. Similarly, influential “America First” commentators such as Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Marjorie Taylor Greene have played roles in fostering anti-Israel sentiment within Republican circles.

According to the Pew Research Center survey, 40 percent of Republicans hold a negative view of Israel, a sentiment that rises to 57 percent among Republicans aged 18 to 49. Nonetheless, traditional sympathy for Israel remains strong among the wider Republican base and the staunchly Christian evangelical community. A Gallup poll indicates that 70 percent of Republicans still side with Israel over Palestine. Analysts warn that this decline in support, especially among young Republican voters, presents a significant warning sign for the upcoming 2028 presidential primaries and future U.S. foreign policy.