[Newsweek] The more Americans know about Israel, the less they like about it, according to a new survey.The Brand Israel group has commissioned regular surveys in its bid to promote the image of Israel as a key ally to America in the Middle East.
While more Americans said they are more knowledgeable about `Israel than before, larger numbers said they had a negative opinion of the country. Less than two-thirds (62 percent) of people surveyed in 2017 have a positive view of Israel, compared to just over three-quarters (76 percent) in 2010.
Although a majority of Americans still view Israel favorably, support is declining among younger Americans and especially among the black and Latino population.
"Shared values are the bedrock of our relationship, and young Americans do not believe Israel shares our values," Fern Oppenheim, one of the group’s co-founders, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "That’s a huge issue. We have to have a narrative about the heart and soul and humanity of the Israelis."
The survey was carried out between September and October 2016 by polling firm Global Strategy Group on behalf of Brand Israel, and sampled 2,600 Americans across a range of demographic groups.
It found that while older Americans, Republicans and men were more likely to view Israel approvingly, the opposite was the case for Millennials, Democrats, women, as well as African-American and Latino Americans.