New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is viewed more favorably by Jewish Americans than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This comes despite Mamdani’s controversial opinions on Israel and the war in Gaza. The latest AP-NORC poll reveals this trend, showing Mamdani with a higher net favorability rating among Jewish respondents compared to Netanyahu. The poll highlights the increasingly complex perspectives of American Jews regarding both Israeli and U.S. political figures.
Views on Israel and Political Figures
The survey indicates a shift among Democrats, who increasingly support Palestinians, while showing declining support for Israel. Mamdani’s views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have come under scrutiny, especially during his political career in New York. He has made headlines for his refusal to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” despite criticism that it might incite violence against Jews. Mamdani later clarified that while he would “discourage” the term’s use, he opposes antisemitism and violence.
Mamdani has recently condemned antisemitic acts in New York City, such as vandalism involving swastikas. He aims to assure Jewish voters that he prioritizes their safety, promising investments in hate-crime prevention. Mamdani has indicated he intends to retract Israel-related executive orders previously signed by former Mayor Eric Adams.
Poll Insights
The poll findings provide insight into favorability ratings. Netanyahu’s favorability among Jewish adults stands at 32 percent, with an unfavorable rating of 59 percent. In contrast, Mamdani has a favorability of 44 percent against a 39 percent unfavorable rating. This results in a net favorability of 5 percent for Mamdani, and -27 percent for Netanyahu. Additionally, 38 percent of respondents believe the U.S. is overly supportive of Israelis, while 24 percent feel the U.S. favors Palestinians too much.
Notably, 30 percent of Jewish adults think Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians, while 49 percent disagree, and 21 percent feel uninformed on the issue. The poll indicates that 59 percent identify as Democrats, 27 percent as Republicans, and 14 percent as independents or neutral.
Shifting Democratic Attitudes
There is a notable change among Democrats since early 2024. Approximately six in ten Democrats now feel the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, up from 45 percent in January 2024 during former President Joe Biden’s tenure. Among Jewish Democrats, 51 percent share this sentiment in the new poll.
Furthermore, 62 percent of Democrats assert that the U.S. does not sufficiently support Palestinians, a rise from 49 percent two years prior. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s handling of Israel sees 40 percent approval from Jewish adults, with 58 percent disapproving.
Comparing Favorability
Data from a Harvard/Harris poll provides additional context on favorability ratings. Mamdani had a 24 percent favorable rating, with an unfavorable rating of 33 percent. Netanyahu’s ratings were 27 percent favorable and 34 percent unfavorable. Mamdani’s net rating was -9 percent, while Netanyahu’s was -7 percent.
This poll surveyed 2,746 registered voters from April 23 to April 26, with a margin of error of 1.87 percent.
Netanyahu’s Criticism
Netanyahu recently criticized Mamdani’s stance on Israel during a CNN interview. He described Mamdani’s support for Israel’s existence, but with the caveat of equal rights rather than privileging any religion, as “absurd.” Netanyahu argued that Israel, despite its imperfections, remains a democracy similar to the United States.