Dear Friend of Israel, Friend of FLAME:

You’d think with eight million Jews under fire in Israel from Iran—which daily screams “Death to Israel”—that Jews around the world would unite to support the U.S.-Israel war to defeat the Islamic Republic. No surprise that Jews in Israel overwhelmingly support this war of self-defense. But for American Jews, this solidarity drops precipitously, to only about half the tiny U.S. Jewish population. Really?

Whether you’re an American Jew who supports the war . . . or one who does not . . . you have to ask “Why this disparity?” Why would American Jews not unanimously support a war meant to protect our Israeli brothers and sisters, whose very existence is threatened by Iran?

Statistics provide strong clues about the beliefs of American Jews who support our brethren in Israel—and those who don’t. Start here: While some 93% of Jews in Israel support the war, according to a March 2026 survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), only 47% of American Jews who voted for Kamala Harris support it.

Support for Israel by Democrats—and American Jews—continues to fall

Why would Harris voters be disinclined to support fellow Jews in the State of Israel? Harris’s Democratic Party has been shedding support for Israel steadily over recent years. Democrats have swung from a majority in 2023 supporting Israel in the Palestinian conflict to today, when, for the first time, some 65% of Democrats sympathize more with the Palestinians, and only 17% of Democrats sympathize with Israel (Gallup Poll, February 2026).

Since some 70% of American Jews identify as Democrats, this may explain their failure to support Israel’s war. Yet think of it: A substantial majority of Democrats support a Muslim group whose avowed purpose is to destroy the Jewish State of Israel.

What’s more, lies that Israel has committed genocide—while manifestly false—have been increasing steadily over recent years, and they reached a crescendo among Democratic politicians this past year. Senator Bernie Sanders has leveled the charge, as have Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omer and others. Recently presidential hopeful California Governor Gavin Newsom joined them, plus added “apartheid” to his anti-Israel libels.

Jewish liberals less supportive than Jewish conservatives

In addition to dramatic erosion of support for Israel among Democrats, we also see a correlation of American Jewish support for the war between self-described “liberals” and “conservatives.” Support for the U.S. decision to go to war against Iran is only 28% among “strong liberal” U.S. Jews, whereas the war enjoys 100% support among “strong conservatives” (JPPI).

One possible reason liberal American Jews withhold support for the Iran war is their fear the Iran war will “harm Israel’s image in the U.S.”—a belief held by 72% of “strong liberals,” but only 9% of “strong conservatives.”  Clearly liberal Jews are more concerned with Israel’s image in the U.S. (and possibly its reflection on them personally?) than they are with the physical safety of Israeli Jews and survival of the Jewish state.

Self-Test: Two reasons why American Jews fail to support Israel

The JPPI polling allows us to associate two main characteristics with American Jews who do not whole-heartedly support fellow Jews and the State of Israel in the midst of daily, deadly Iranian missile fire on their heads.

First, American Jews are more likely to withhold support for the U.S.-Israel war against Iran if they are Democrats. Ask yourself: If you are a Jewish Democrat who does not support the U.S.-Israel war, is it because you are first a Democrat . . . and second a Jew? Also ask: Do you withhold support because Israel is a partisan issue (“I hate Trump” or “I hate Netanyahu”), or because you are more loyal to your political party than to the Jewish people—your people?

Second, polling shows that the more “liberal”  American Jews consider themselves, the more likely they are to disapprove of the war, despite it being fought in defense of Israel and fellow Jews. If you are a liberal Jew who does not support the U.S.-Israel war, ask yourself: Is it because you are first a liberal . . . and second a Jew? Are your liberal values so strong they prevent you from supporting fellow Jews and the Jewish state in a fight for their existence?

While this war is not “popular” in the U.S., it should be among American Jews

Finally, let us add two important statistics that create context regarding Jewish support for the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.

First, let’s admit: Overall support for the Iran war among Americans generally stands at only about 40%, and a majority of Americans (Jewish or not) oppose it. Remember, too, that even liberal, Harris-supporting Jews exceed this number, supporting the Iran war to the tune of 47%—so bravo to them.

Second, overall support for the Iran war by “communally engaged” (active) American Jews is 68%—much higher than the American average, but still leaving one third of all “engaged” American Jews unsupportive of a war to protect the Jewish state and Jewish lives. Let’s get this straight: You’re a committed, “involved” Jewish American, but you oppose the U.S.-Israel war to defend the Jewish people?

The U.S. is not fighting Iran because of Jews and Israel

In closing, let’s admit this: The primary reason the U.S. launched this war has nothing to do with Jews or Israel—neither is even among the top three reasons. Fact is, Iran has been America’s public enemy #1 and the object of Iranian cries for its death for some 47 years. Iran obsessively seeks to a) develop nuclear weapons, b) build ballistic missiles that can target much of Europe and the Middle East (including Israel), and c) it seeks regional hegemony by use of terrorist jihadi militias. Clearly, Iran’s status as the greatest sponsor of global terrorism provides ample reasons for every American to support this current war.  As commentator Bret Stephens notes, if you have Stage II cancer, you don’t wait to treat it until it becomes State IV.

But for American Jews, the stakes are higher. Reasons for American Jews to support the war against Iran are even greater and more immediately life threatening than they are for generic Democrats and “liberals.” You can be an American first and a Jew second. Certainly being a Jew—no matter any other objections to this war—should tip the balance toward support for defeating a Jew-hating Iranian regime that swears “Death to Israel.”

If you agree we need to spread this truth, please use your email browser to forward this Hotline issue to fellow lovers of Israel—and encourage them to join us by subscribing to the Hotline at no charge.

Best regards,
James Sinkinson, President
Facts and Logic About the Middle East (FLAME)

P.S.      Surely you’ve recently read of some celebrity, politician, radical student, foreign head of state or media pundit slander Israel with the “Gaza genocide” lie. Many who spread this lie are ignorant, but most are anti-Israel haters. They care nothing for the truth. The tragedy is, when they utter the Gaza genocide falsehood, too few knowledgeable people—and virtually no media—stand up to refute it. Indeed, when you share the simple facts, the genocide lie crumbles. Upon learning that Israel conducts its war against Hamas terrorists with the highest ethical standards—and that nothing Israel does in Gaza fits the definition of genocide—fair-minded people quickly see through the lie. I hope you’ll agree that we supporters of the Israel-U.S. relationship need to speak out. FLAME’s new hasbarah—explanatory message—“Facts Shatter Gaza Genocide Lies”—describes what genocide is and is not and proves factually that Israel’s tactics in the war are ethical and righteous. It also reveals demographic data showing that the Palestinian population in Gaza is actually increasing. Finally, it notes that those who spread the Gaza genocide lie fit the classic definition of antisemites. Please review this convincing, fact-based editorial, which FLAME is about to publish to millions—in leading social media, as well as in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Tampa Bay Times, Denver Post and Los Angeles Times. This piece will also be sent to all members of Congress, the President and Vice President. If you agree that this kind of public relations effort on Israel’s behalf is critical, I urge you to support us with a donation.