Americans' View Of Israel Hits Record Low as 'NAZA' Film Hits Theaters
Americans' favorability score for Israel is the lowest it has been in almost five decades, new research shows.
Americans' perception of Israel has reached an all-time low, according to a recent poll conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The poll, which has been tracking foreign policy views since 1974, reveals that Americans now rate Israel at a 44 on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 representing an unfavorable view and 100 being the most favorable.
This is the lowest rating ever recorded by the organization. A significant portion of Americans, over half, support decreasing or ending military aid to Israel following the release of the documentary "NAZA." The film, named after the Hebrew acronym for collateral damage, accuses Israel of recklessly killing civilians in Gaza. The documentary, produced by The Guardian and not distributed through traditional channels, has sparked controversy and strong backlash from Israel and American advocacy groups.
The film alleges that the Israeli military used artificial intelligence tools to predict civilian deaths and carried out attacks regardless. Despite the controversy, the documentary has already shown in several cities, including Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle, and is set to open in Washington D.C. on October 9. The poll shows that the decline in favorability towards Israel is not limited to any one political group but has affected Democrats, Republicans, and independents equally.
Notably, there is a growing divide within each political group, with MAGA Republicans still viewing Israel favorably while Democrats who identify as liberal have the lowest score for Israel. The poll authors attribute the change in perception to Israel's war against Hamas, U.S. government support for it, and the joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
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