The eroding US support for Israel: 'America is falling out of love'
As the Gaza war drags on, the Economist warns that US public and political backing for Israel is weakening, threatening the future of military aid and exposing Israel to growing isolation even as it seeks favor with President Trump
The Economist devoted much of its late September 2025 issue to the dramatic erosion of American public and institutional support for Israel. In an extensive series of reports, the British weekly describes how, amid the prolonged war in Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, Americans are turning away from Israel—and the political system is reflecting this shift.
According to the magazine, Israel now finds itself more dependent on the United States than ever, yet its foundation of support is eroding in ways that could change the rules of the game. By drawing on polling data, testimonies, and political analysis, the Economist paints a comprehensive picture of a widening rift: across parties, generations, and communities, with the potential to reshape U.S. foreign policy toward Israel.
The publication frames its coverage not only as journalism but also as a warning: unless Israel changes course—both diplomatically and in the court of public opinion—it risks isolation, dependent but without a true backer on the global stage.
'How Israel is losing America'
In its cover story, “How Israel is losing America,” the magazine notes that while Netanyahu poses with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and declares the alliance as “solid as the Western Wall,” the numbers tell a different story. Polls show 53% of Americans now hold a negative opinion of Israel, with sympathy for Israel versus the Palestinians at a 25-year low. Forty-three percent of respondents believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
The steepest drop is among older Democrats, where negative views have surged 23 percentage points in just three years. Support has also slipped among young Republicans—from 63% in 2022 to nearly an even split today. Even among young evangelicals, once a cornerstone of pro-Israel sentiment, support fell from 69% in 2018 to 34% in 2021, with pollsters noting the decline has continued.
A history of warning covers
This is not the first time the Economist has placed Israel on its cover. In March 2024, after more than five months of fighting in Gaza, the magazine depicted a lone Israeli flag in the desert, barely clinging to a thin branch, under the headline “Israel alone.” The image accompanied rising Biden administration criticism and Canada’s decision to halt arms sales to Israel.
A year later, after Israel’s military successes against Hezbollah and Iran in Operations Northern Arrows and Days of Retribution, and airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthis, the March 2025 cover reversed the imagery. It showed a field full of strong Israeli flags over a settlement backdrop, under the caption “Israel’s hubris.”
The magazine drew criticism for what some saw as contrasting portrayals: under Biden, a vulnerable Israel adrift; under Trump, a strong but arrogant Israel portrayed as blinded by its own power.
Adding to the sense of urgency, the New Yorker also dedicated a feature this week to the collapse of U.S. support for Israel. Titled “Israel’s New Occupation,” it argues that Netanyahu’s “super Sparta” rhetoric dovetails with a growing reality of isolation, particularly from its most vital ally.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rylvo49ixl