# Jewish Americans Link Israeli Policies and Aipac to Rising Antisemitism New polling reveals a significant disconnect between Jewish voters and pro-Israel lobbying groups. - **Source:** [Middle East Eye](https://www.middleeasteye.net) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/296166f5-21ff-47b7-9c4b-e92946aea0b2 ## Shifting Political Perspectives A recent poll commissioned by J Street reveals that a supermajority of Jewish Americans believe Israeli government actions and Aipac influence contribute to rising antisemitism. Conducted by GBAO Strategies between October 28 and November 3, 2026, the data highlights a profound divide between community sentiment and traditional pro-Israel advocacy narratives. ## Aipac Spending and Criticism Approximately 66 percent of Jewish voters surveyed believe that Aipac’s campaign spending against critics of Israel actively fuels antisemitism in the United States. Furthermore, 60 percent of respondents argue that Jewish organizations frequently weaponize concerns about antisemitism to shield unpopular Israeli government policies from legitimate criticism or necessary public accountability. ## West Bank and Gaza Impact The survey indicates that 80 percent of Jewish voters believe Israel’s military actions in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip are directly increasing antisemitism domestically. This sentiment is paired with a strong desire for policy changes, as 76 percent of voters explicitly support imposing sanctions against violent West Bank settlers. ## Electoral Trends and Results The 2026 midterm elections demonstrated a significant shift, with Democratic Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed securing a landslide victory against an Aipac-backed opponent in Michigan. El-Sayed, who campaigned on cutting aid to Israel, captured 60 percent of early Jewish voters, signaling a rejection of unconditional support for current Israeli government policies. ## Favorability Ratings Comparison Public perception data shows a stark contrast in favorability among Jewish Americans. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani holds a 49 percent favorability rating within the community. In contrast, outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains only a 20 percent favorability rating, reflecting deep dissatisfaction with the current Israeli leadership's political trajectory. ## Challenging Conventional Wisdom Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street, stated that these results dismantle stereotypes suggesting Jewish Americans demand unconditional support for Israel. The data shows that 72 percent of Jewish voters supported Democratic candidates, indicating that the community prioritizes accountability and peace-oriented leadership over the traditional blank-check approach to foreign policy support. ## Nuanced Community Engagement Jim Gerstein of GBAO Strategies noted that conventional media coverage often fails to capture the nuanced thinking of Jewish Americans. While political discourse frequently treats the community as a monolith, the poll confirms that voters process complex geopolitical issues through a lens that rejects the conflation of criticism with bigotry. ## Future Policy Implications The findings suggest a potential long-term shift in how American politicians engage with Jewish voters regarding Middle Eastern policy. By prioritizing accountability and opposing the status quo in the West Bank, this demographic is signaling a demand for American leadership that advances security for both Israelis and Palestinians without ignoring human rights. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/supermajority-jewish-americans-think-israel-and-aipac-drive-antisemitism — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._