Support for Iran war among ‘connected’ US Jews falls again, poll finds

Lead

Support for the US-led war against Iran has declined among American Jews with ties to Jewish institutional life, according to a survey released by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI). The poll, tracking attitudes over the course of Operation Epic Fury and Roaring Lion, found that approval dropped from 68% in the first week to 60% after the ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump on April 8. Opposition rose from 26% to 34% during the same period.

The findings, reported by Dawn, the Jerusalem Post, and JTA, reflect a community that is increasingly divided along ideological lines as the conflict progressed.

Coverage Comparison

Three media outlets covered the JPPI survey, each emphasizing slightly different aspects. Dawn, a Pakistani English-language daily, framed the results as a "noticeable shift" in public opinion, highlighting both the decline in support and the polarized ideological breakdown. The Jerusalem Post, citing the survey data, focused on the erosion of support and the rising perception of the war as a "failure." JTA, also via the Jerusalem Post, provided additional details about the survey's methodology and the sharpest decline among "leaning liberal" respondents.

The outlets agreed on the core statistics: 68% initial support, 60% after the ceasefire, and opposition rising from 26% to 34%. They also noted that the decline was most pronounced among liberals, with only 42% of "leaning liberal" respondents supporting the war by mid-April, down from 57% in early March.

Key Claims

• Support erosion: According to JPPI data, support for the war fell from 68% in the first week to 62% by the third week, and further to 60% following the ceasefire. Opposition increased from 26% to 34% over the same period.
• Perception of success: The percentage of respondents viewing the war as a "failure" rose from 14% to 25%, while those seeing it as a "major success" fell from 24% to 14%. A majority (56%) still view the war as "successful," down from 66% in March.
• Social perception: 53% of respondents initially thought most of their Jewish acquaintances supported the war, but this fell to 43% within a month.
• Ideological divide: The survey found strong polarization: 96% of "strong conservatives" and 94% of "leaning conservatives" supported the war, while 71% of "strong liberals" opposed it. "Leaning liberals" were the most divided, with 42% supporting and 44% opposing.
• Blockade support: A single source reported that 59% of US respondents support a military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, but this claim has not been independently verified by other outlets.
• Broader context: A separate nationwide survey by GBAO Strategies for J Street, which reflects a broader sample of American Jewish voters, found that about 60% opposed the war in March, suggesting more widespread skepticism than among the "connected" Jews polled by JPPI.

Perspectives

The JPPI survey offers a window into the shifting attitudes of American Jews who are engaged with communal institutions. As JTA noted, the poll draws from a panel that includes fewer intermarried Jews and more denominationally affiliated Jews than the broader Jewish population, meaning it may overrepresent those with stronger communal ties.

The ideological breakdown highlights the deep partisan divide over the conflict. While conservative respondents were nearly unanimous in their support, liberals were largely opposed, and centrists showed substantial backing at 83%. This polarization mirrors broader US political divisions on foreign policy.

The decline in support for the war, particularly among liberals, may reflect growing concerns about the conflict's outcomes. As the war continued without a clear victory, and with the ceasefire announced unilaterally, perceptions of "success" eroded, with only 14% believing the war achieved "major success" by mid-April.

It is important to note that the JPPI survey only captures the views of a specific segment of American Jews. The J Street/GBAO poll suggests that opposition may be even higher among the wider Jewish electorate, pointing to a potential disconnect between communal leadership and the broader community.

As the situation evolves, these polls provide a snapshot of a community reassessing its stance on a controversial military campaign. The full implications of this shift remain to be seen, particularly as debates over the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the war's long-term goals continue.