Significant Divisions Among American Jews on Israel's Gaza Actions, Poll Shows

Recent discourse around the Israel-Gaza conflict reveals deep divisions within Jewish communities, particularly in the United States, on issues of identity, politics, and morality. Polling data from the Washington Post and Jfeed highlight that a majority of American Jews recognize war crimes committed by both Hamas and Israel, with a significant portion describing Israeli actions as genocidal, while still viewing Israel as vital to Jewish identity. This complex stance coincides with a growing distrust in Prime Minister Netanyahu and a pronounced generational gap in emotional connection to Israel. Simultaneously, Jewish intellectuals and communities face social ostracization for expressing support for Israel or Jewish identity, reflecting harsh polarization even within academia. On the left, criticism of Israel's actions is often distinguished from antisemitism, emphasizing opposition to Israel’s policies rather than Jewish people, while some ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups reject the legitimacy of the modern state of Israel on theological grounds, asserting that true redemption must come through divine intervention rather than political means. These varied perspectives underscore the multifaceted and contentious nature of Jewish identity and political opinion related to Israel amid ongoing conflict.