Bulwark Takes Support for Israel Has Collapsed Among Young Americans
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Mar 18, 2026 
Rachel Janfaza, Gen Z researcher and founder of Up and Up, shares findings from polls and listening sessions about a sharp decline in pro-Israel sentiment among young Americans. She describes how anti-Israel views become social status signals, how campus discourse blurs into threats against Jewish students, and how online culture and influencers amplify these shifts.
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Sharp Collapse In Young Adults' Support For Israel
- Young Americans' view of Israel collapsed between 2023 and early 2024, with only 13% of 18–34 year olds viewing Israel positively.
- NBC polling (Feb 27–Mar 3) shows negative views rose to 63% from 37% in 2023, driven largely by younger cohorts.
Anti‑Israel Views Conflate With Antisemitism On Campus
- Anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism are being conflated on campuses, normalizing hostility toward Jewish people.
- A 22-year-old Georgetown student said being anti-Israel is now considered a 'based take,' linking criticism of Israel to being anti-Jewish.
Two Divergent Gen Z Cohorts Explain Attitude Shift
- Gen Z has fractured into two cohorts: an earlier progressive 'Gen Z 1.0' and a reactive 'Gen Z 2.0' that rejects prior activism.
- Rachel Janfaza said Gen Z 2.0 views earlier activism as ineffective and often embraces countercultural backlash.