US Envoy Blames Biblical Ignorance for Israel Support Drop

United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has attributed the decline in American public support for Israel to foreign propaganda, hostility toward religious faith, and widespread unfamiliarity with the Bible. Speaking in a television interview on Thursday, the ambassador rejected claims that Israel is an apartheid state or committing genocide in Gaza.

Huckabee’s remarks follow multiple public opinion polls indicating a broader shift in how the American public views Israel and its leadership. The drop in approval has also emerged as a point of friction in United States domestic politics following recent election victories by prominent critics of Israeli policy.

Factors Cited for Shifting Opinion

In his interview with NewsNation, Huckabee outlined three specific drivers that he asserted were responsible for souring public sentiment toward Israel. He cited disinformation campaigns from foreign entities, opposition to people who believe “there is a God and that he’s made up the rules for life,” and a lack of biblical literacy among Americans.

Addressing international criticisms of Israeli military actions and governance, Huckabee stated that accusations of genocide in Gaza and claims that Israel operates an apartheid regime are false. He argued that public perceptions of Israel would be significantly more positive if people were to “look at the truth.”

Polling Highlights Growing Public Division

Recent surveys show a clear division between the general United States public and key religious demographics regarding Israel. A Pew Research survey conducted in April revealed that 60 percent of American adults held an unfavorable view of Israel. By contrast, favorable views remained strong among white evangelical Christians, reaching 65 percent.

The Pew survey also found that over half of Americans lacked trust in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to handle international affairs appropriately. Additionally, a July poll from AP-NORC showed that Americans who believed Israel had committed genocide in Gaza outnumbered those who did not, although roughly half of respondents indicated they lacked enough information to give a definitive answer.

Political Strain and Local Responses

The changing public sentiment has manifested in political contests across the United States, including the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City. Mamdani’s vocal opposition to Israeli policy prompted Prime Minister Netanyahu to criticize him directly during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, where Netanyahu claimed Jewish residents told him they felt unsafe in the city.

Mamdani has denied allegations of antisemitism, stating that he stands against all forms of bigotry. He had previously declared an intent to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu if he visited New York City, though he later clarified that municipal authorities do not possess the legal jurisdiction to carry out such an action.

Background

Public support in the United States for Israel has traditionally received strong backing from conservative evangelical Christian communities, which view the state through a theological lens. In recent years, public opinion has grown increasingly polarized along political and demographic lines, influenced by ongoing military operations, humanitarian conditions in Palestinian territories, and shifting domestic political dynamics.