As Election Day 2024 approaches, Israeli sentiment leans heavily towards former U.S. President Donald Trump over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, with an overwhelming 72% of Israeli Jews believing Trump would better advance Israel's interests, according to a new survey by the Israel Democracy Institute’s Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research. In contrast, only 11% of Jewish Israelis think a Harris administration would serve Israel well, underscoring a striking preference for Trump’s foreign policy stance.
The divide is even more pronounced among young Israelis aged 18-34, with a staggering 90% favoring Trump over Harris, who was preferred by a meager 2%. The preference is largely shaped by Trump’s reputation for staunch support of Israel and his administration's unwavering stance against threats posed by Iran and regional instability. Even among Arab citizens of Israel, 46% saw no distinction between the two candidates in serving their interests, while those who expressed a preference leaned marginally toward Trump.
Further reinforcing this trend, a Channel 12 survey found 66% of Israelis prefer Trump over Harris. Among Israel’s coalition of right-wing and religious party voters, support for Trump surges to 93%, compared to a negligible 1% for Harris.
This is Tel Aviv. 🇺🇸🇮🇱
— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) October 31, 2024
Israel Votes Trump! pic.twitter.com/RHzTSRhOMM
The U.S.-Israel Relationship and American Jewish Polarization
Across the ocean, American Jewish communities are increasingly polarized. Though the stakes for U.S.-Israel relations are high, discussions within American Jewish circles often become heated, with partisan loyalties fueling fierce debate. Some portray the 2024 U.S. election as a defining moment for Israel, while others view the U.S.-Israel alliance as resilient enough to withstand any shifts in American leadership. While the candidates’ visions for Israel vary, the core of the U.S.-Israel partnership—military, intelligence, and security cooperation—remains steadfast, underpinned by deep mutual interests.
Recent polling from Harvard CAPS and Harris shows at least 80% of Americans support Israel over Hamas, while 78% believe Hamas should lose control of Gaza. The stability of American public opinion suggests that, despite political divides, a strong pro-Israel sentiment endures among the U.S. electorate, which may safeguard the alliance regardless of electoral outcomes.
72%-11%. Israelis choose Trump over Harris with a 6.5:1 ratio. pic.twitter.com/EKdR32kKvn
— Yoel Israel (@YoelTIsrael) November 4, 2024
A Crossroads for U.S. Policy Toward Iran
While U.S.-Israel relations are often the focus, it is the U.S. approach to Iran that could most significantly impact Israel’s future security. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran has posed an ever-growing threat to both Israel and the U.S., and each administration’s approach to curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional interference has been varied. Republicans typically favor a strategy of maximum pressure, while Democrats often pursue negotiations to contain Iran’s influence. As Goli Ameri noted in The Hill, both strategies have so far failed to neutralize Iran as a threat.
Polling underscores this concern, with 75% of Americans viewing a nuclear Iran as a “critical threat” and 85% of Iranian Americans opposing a return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The continuous tightening of sanctions since 2000 has shown limited efficacy, reinforcing calls for a more decisive approach.
Obama, who gave Iran pallets of cash and empowered them to attack Israel...
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) November 4, 2024
Now lectures jewish people on how they shouldn't vote for Trump by using the "very fine people" lie.
Democrats are desperate.pic.twitter.com/T66XdOAD1n
Israel’s Preemptive Strike Against Iranian Military Assets
Israel recently launched a decisive operation against Iranian assets in response to a spate of attacks by Iran on Israeli civilians. On Oct. 26, 2024, Israeli forces dismantled critical components of Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and air defenses, a strategic move that has underscored the vulnerability of Tehran’s infrastructure. This decisive action demonstrates Israel’s readiness to confront Iranian aggression directly and serves as a stark warning to the Iranian regime. For Israel, eliminating Iran’s capacity to threaten its borders is an existential imperative, and Israeli citizens are clear on who they believe will support this stance—Donald Trump.
Election Day 2024: A Defining Moment for the U.S.-Iran-Israel Triangle
As Israelis view it, the stakes have never been higher. A U.S. administration committed to a hardline approach on Iran—eschewing diplomatic niceties and intensifying pressure on Tehran—represents Israel’s best hope for a stable future. Trump, in the eyes of many Israelis, embodies this firm stance, and for them, the choice is clear. They view him as uniquely positioned to prioritize Israel’s security and confront Iran's nuclear ambitions head-on.
"After Iran's Oct. 1 missile attack, Mr. Biden told Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear program. Mr. Trump replied, 'Isn't that what you're supposed to hit? It's the biggest risk we have, nuclear weapons.' He reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 'Do what you have… pic.twitter.com/xtcbTsccvV
— Rita Rosenfeld (@rheytah) November 4, 2024
In a tense and unpredictable regional landscape, the question is not simply which candidate will secure a stronger U.S.-Israel relationship, but who is best equipped to confront Iran’s escalating aggression. For a majority of Israeli Jews, the answer remains Donald Trump.
