When it comes to the Israel-Gaza war, the split in opinion is generational

This episode explores how generational differences influence American opinions on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.

1. Young Americans are increasingly critical of U.S. support for Israel, influenced by recent global and domestic social justice movements.
2. There's a notable shift in how different generations view Israel, with older Americans seeing it through historical struggles, whereas younger people critique its recent policies.
3. The issue of U.S. foreign policy towards Israel could significantly impact young voter turnout and preferences in the upcoming 2024 elections.
4. Public demonstrations and protests are becoming a defining feature of political expression among younger Americans.
5. The episode underscores the complexity of balancing foreign policy with domestic political repercussions.

1: Opening Remarks

Sasha Pfeiffer introduces the episode's focus on the generational divide regarding U.S. support for Israel. Sasha Pfeiffer: "And my administration's support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering."

2: Polling Data

Analysis of polling data reveals a stark generational split in support for Israel. Joe Biden: "Younger Americans, those under 45, much less likely to say that they want a strong show of support publicly from the government for Israel."

3: Street Protests

Coverage of protests that show the generational split in public opinion. Sasha Pfeiffer: "That split between young voters poured out into the streets in November 2 big marches, one organized by pro-Palestinian groups and one by pro-Israeli groups, occurred in Washington."

4: Voter Impact

Discussion on how this issue could affect voter behavior in the upcoming elections. Sasha Pfeiffer: "Consider whether or not Joe Biden gets reelected in 2024 will depend a lot on if he can repeat his 2020 success with young voters."

5: Expert Insight

Insight from Omar Waso on generational perspectives and protest culture. Omar Waso: "For a younger generation, Israel is increasingly defined by its treatment of Palestinians."

1. Educate yourself on the historical context of the Israel-Gaza conflict to form a more informed opinion.
2. Engage in constructive dialogue with people from different generations to understand diverse perspectives on foreign policy.
3. Participate in civic activities like voting or attending local council meetings to voice your opinions.
4. Consider supporting organizations that work towards peace and human rights in the Middle East.
5. Stay informed about U.S. foreign policy and its implications through reputable news sources.

After the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel that killed more than 1,100 people, President Joe Biden expressed America's backing for its Middle Eastern ally.

But that same month, polls showed that support for Israel among American voters was not unwavering. And that, in fact, support was split across generations.

That split between young voters poured out into the streets in November. Two big marches – one organized by pro-Palestinian groups and one by pro-Israeli groups – occurred in Washington.

Whether or not Joe Biden gets re-elected in 2024 will depend a lot on if he can repeat his 2020 success with young voters. But a split over U.S. support for Israel may get in his way.

People

Joe Biden, Sasha Pfeiffer, Omar Waso, Elena Moore

Content Warnings:

None

Sasha Pfeiffer
After the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel that killed more than 1100 people, President Joe Biden expressed Americas backing for its middle eastern ally. And my administrations support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering. But that same month, polls showed that support of Israel among american voters was not unwavering and that, in fact, support was split across generations. Here was NPR's Domenico Montanaro reporting on an October 13 NPR PBS NewsHour Marist poll. The real split here is by age and by race.

Joe Biden
Younger Americans, those under 45, much less likely to say that they want a strong show of support publicly from the government for Israel. Just 48% said that, compared to 78% of people 45 or older. We saw that the older people were, the more they wanted that support for Israel. And the reverse was also true. That split between young voters poured out into the streets in November 2 big marches, one organized by pro palestinian groups and one by pro israeli groups, occurred in Washington.

Sasha Pfeiffer
NPR's Elena Moore was on the ground and spoke to some of the participants, like 27 year old Noha Adwan, who said she voted for Biden in 2020 but now regrets the choice. I think there's a split between whether or not we're gonna be voting Republican or submitting a blank ballot, but Joe Biden will never, ever, ever get my vote ever again. 23 year old Prachi Javar thinks Biden is in trouble with the Gen Z vote. Gen Z cares so much about human rights as a movement, and to have our commander in chief not actually follow through with that and not support that is really disheartening. We're now eight months into a war that has left more than 37,000 Palestinians dead and millions of people in Gaza in dire need of aid.

And condemnation of Israel among young voters has only gotten louder. That's evidenced by the college campus protests that rocked the final months of the 2024 academic year.

Consider whether or not Joe Biden gets reelected in 2024 will depend a lot on if he can repeat his 2020 success with young voters. But a split over us support for Israel may get in his way.

From NPR I'm Sasha Pfeiffer.

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Sasha Pfeiffer
Its consider this from NPR. The Biden administration is struggling to win over young voters. They were a big part of his presidential victory in 2020. But recent polls find weakening support for President Biden among voters under age 30. And that coincides with their increasing disappointment over his backing of Israel and its war in Gaza.

Meanwhile, older Americans are more likely to approve of Bidens longtime support for Israel. So whats driving this generational divide? For some insight, we called Omar Waso. Hes an assistant professor in the political science department at the University of California, Berkeley. We started on the question of why he thinks President Biden may be losing younger voters more than older voters on the Gaza issue.

Joe Biden
For an older generation, Israel is defined by the Holocaust and hard fought wars for survival. And in their eyes, Israel was really understood as the underdog. I think for a younger generation, Israel is increasingly defined by its treatment of Palestinians, particularly under the last 20 years of right wing governments led by Netanyahu. And for them, Israel is seen as the top dog. That's interesting.

Sasha Pfeiffer
So in a way, lived experience or maybe lack of lived experience for younger voters because they're simply younger. They don't remember so much the history of Israel that might give Israel so much support and sympathy among their elders. Is that a fair way to put it? I think that's exactly right. And so the contemporary issues of things like growing settlements define a younger generation's understanding of Israel and less the history of a response to the Holocaust.

I read a previous interview you did where you said that because many of today's college students were in high school during Black Lives Matter protests, they consider protests a normal part of civic participation. Do you think that's somewhat unique to this generation of young people and not true of every young generation? Protest movements definitely ebb and flow across generations. And so there was a peak in protest activity in the sixties and then a bit of a lull. And then we've seen during wars or in the case of the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, a resurgence.

Joe Biden
And so I think there are some generations that are more defined by protest movements than others. Importantly, also the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 were among the biggest protest movements in America history. And so that really was a defining experience for people coming of age in that period. Omar Waso, you have studied the protests in the US in the 1960s, especially civil rights protests by students. You know, interestingly, some of these college kids today may have parents who are part of those 1960s protests, but we also see parents, some parents, dismayed by their children protesting.

Sasha Pfeiffer
What do you make of that? Part of the logic of protest is to try and disrupt the status quo is to say some kind of inequality or injustice is no longer acceptable. And often for an older generation, those kinds of things feel normal. The status quo is what they've lived with for their whole lives. And for a younger generation, it sort of becomes unacceptable.

Joe Biden
And so inherent in that is attention across generations and across, in some ways, tactics where disruption is meant to say, we no longer accept what is the current norm, but that means potentially inconveniencing or doing things that make people in positions of power or people who are more established uncomfortable. Oh, that's interesting. Are you saying in a way their parents have maybe gotten complacent or they've gotten comfortable, they get softer as they're older and become more affluent? Maybe. I would say that as everybody ages, they in some ways acclimate to the status quo and things that are potentially troubling become acceptable.

And for a younger generation, there's a sense of trying to make sense of what's going on, what interpret some kind of inequality, and to not necessarily accept the status quo as natural or reasonable. That's Omar Waso, an assistant professor of political science at UC Berkeley. Thank you for your time. Thank you so much. And now we bring in NPR's Elena Moore.

Sasha Pfeiffer
She covers new voters and youth politics. Hi, Elena. Hey there, Elena. From all the young voters you've been talking to about Gaza and Israel, what's your sense of how much their opposition to how much Biden is handling that will sway what they do at the polls in November? I think it's making it a really complicated decision.

Joe Biden
I talked to one young voter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, not that long ago, back in April. Their name's Miles Medina, and it's really kind of a tough subject for them right now. I'm not happy with Biden's foreign policy, but at the same time, as a transgender person, I don't want my rights taken away. And I know that's something that a lot of people my age are like, what do we do? So you heard miles say they're a trans person.

They told me they typically vote for Democrats. And, you know, as a voter in America, they argued that voting for a Democrat like Biden would make more sense for them. But on this issue of the war in Gaza, it's really holding them back and it's making that vote in November much more complicated. So some might not vote for Biden. Do you have a sense of how many might instead vote for Trump or a third party candidate or not vote at all?

Sasha Pfeiffer
All those scenarios could have different effects on the election, right? I mean, we'll take Wisconsin. In a place like Wisconsin, which came down to such a small margin in 2020, they might vote for different people, but it could have a very similar effect. So any vote Biden loses is a positive for Trump in a state that's so close. Obviously, not all young voters vote as a bloc.

There are many who support Israel. They support Biden's handling of the war in Gaza. But the critics of Biden, the youth critics of Biden have gotten maybe disproportionate media coverage. How much do you think they represent the view of their generation? I mean, it really might depend because recent polling shows that when you ask young people, voters under 40, what their top voting issue, that once again is the economy, you know, particularly inflation.

Joe Biden
In this recent poll from University of Chicago, we saw just that. And the war in Gaza is an issue on that list. It's lower. So yes, this is an issue firing up a group of people. But to say it is encompassing an entire voting bloc is not true.

Sasha Pfeiffer
NPR political reporter Elena Moore. Thank you. Thank you. This episode was produced by Mark Rivers with audio engineering by Carly Strange. It was edited by Ashley Brown and Courtney Dorning.

Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigun. And one more thing before we go. You can now enjoy the consider this newsletter. We still help you break down a major story of the day, but you'll also get to know our producers and hosts and some moments of joy from the All THINGS considered team. You can sign up@npr.org.

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