US Jews increasingly link Israeli policy to antisemitism — Jerusalem Post

In Israel, the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) released its September 2026 Jewish People Voice Index, which showed differences between Jews in the United States and Israel in assessing the connection between Israeli government policy and the rise of antisemitism worldwide. As reported by the Jerusalem Post, 39% of surveyed American Jews believe that Israeli government policy significantly contributes to increasing antisemitism. In September 2025, 31% of respondents gave this answer.

Differences in assessments

Another 35% of American Jews said that Israel's policy contributes to the rise in antisemitism to some extent. Any connection between these phenomena was denied by 23%, compared with 32% a year earlier.

Among Israeli Jews, the results were different: 44% see no connection between state policy and antisemitism, while 28% consider it a significant factor. Major changes to Israel's policy because of waves of antisemitism were supported by 28% of American Jews and 17% of Israeli Jews. At the same time, 57% of Israeli respondents opposed any changes, while 37% of American Jews shared this position.

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Assessment of the country's future

Israeli Jews were more optimistic about the state's future: 43% of respondents in Israel and 19% of American Jews predicted a positive future. The share of American Jews who believe that Israel is in a decline that will continue fell from 38% in September 2025 to 25% in 2026. Among Israeli Jews, 24% gave this answer.

The index also recorded political differences in the United States. Among respondents who described themselves as committed conservatives, 51% expressed strong optimism about Israel. Among committed liberals, 4% were optimists, while 50% feared further decline.

Language connection with Israel

Half of American Jews involved in the Jewish community reported knowing hundreds of Hebrew words or more; 13% are fluent in the language. JPPI also recorded a connection between knowledge of Hebrew and closeness to Israel: among those who had lived in Israel, half of respondents speak Hebrew fluently, while among those who had never visited the country, 33% know only a few words.