Close Israel tie linked to feeling unsafe in U.S.
The Associated Press surveyed 1,022 Jewish adults in the U.S. to better understand their views on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, their opinions of the political parties, and their experiences with prejudice. The survey, released July 18, 2026, found that among Jews with a religious affiliation, views on Israel’s recent military actions are far from uniform or uncritical.
About 7 in 10 Jewish adults overall identify as Jewish when asked about their religious affiliation. The rest, about 3 in 10 Jewish adults, say they are atheists, agnostics, or have no particular religious affiliation, but still identify as Jewish in other ways.
For religiously affiliated Jews, support for Israel remains a bedrock of their religious identity, its existence seen as a guarantee of Jewish self-determination and safety. Those who are religiously unaffiliated, by contrast, are more critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The survey found that Jewish adults who feel a close emotional tie to Israel are particularly likely to feel unsafe in the country today.
A generational divide also emerged in the survey. Younger Jewish adults prioritize religious observance, holidays, and other forms of communal connection over supporting Israel, while adults ages 45 and older still view support for Israel as a key component of their religious identity. The divide on Israel’s actions since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war in Gaza now extends beyond politics into the very definition of Jewish religious identity.
Most Jewish adults said they do not feel well represented by political leaders, including President Trump and either major party. A majority view prejudice against Jewish people as a serious problem in the country, according to the poll.