Young people are finally free to talk about their opinion about Israel

The recent survey data indicates that, compared to October 7, 2023, young Americans have radically changed their position on Israel. The views of young Americans may not have changed so quickly if it was not for the victory of President Donald Trump, who probably prompted students to share their support for Israel without fear of social exception.

After the massacre on October 7 and only a few days after a brutal attack on Israel from Hamas, survey data from October 2023 Harvard Harris survey It reveals that the youngest cohort of America was much less supported by Israel than the older generations. While the nation mainly supported Israel by 84% to Hamas, after the tragedy, almost half (52%) supported Israel from 18 to 24, while 95% of Americans supported Israel over 65. Commentators caused these youngest Americans with ignorance and morally perplexed.

A year later, in October 2024, the attitude of young Americans did not change. Took only weeks before the November presidential election, Survey data found that 81% of Americans supported Israel compared to only 19% for a ham. The older generations were also much more supported by Israel than younger cohorts. However, only four months ago, those who in the 18-24 cohort were the least supporting Israel of all age groups by only 57% and lower than at the age of 25-34, which were 65% in favor of Israel. The oldest cohort, those 65 years and older, was again the most supportive at 94%

Arguments were held for an alarming “generation of gap” where “The younger Americans have a more favorable opinion about the Palestinian people than the Israeli people.”

However newly released January Survey data Harvard-Harris refutes this generation. In fact, it would seem that young Americans have radically changed their position on Israel – that the changes, of course, prompted a lot of questions.

The latest data show that not only the nation supports Israel over Hamas on a large margin – 79% for Israel compared to 21% for Hamas – but also 79% of young people aged 18 to 24 Israel.

This level of support is higher than at the age of 25-34, which support Israel over Hamas by 68%, but remain lower than those over 65 who support Israel by over 90%.

As a researcher at public opinion, and a professor of Zionists, who regularly works with students across the country, I see these new data as illuminating, as this reveals a deviation of the cancellation culture and a dangerous mandatory group.

Public opinion rarely changes it quickly and sharply. As a professor, I have encountered many students with personal beliefs that are nothing but progressive but often publicly signal that they remain from the center. Almost all of them tell me privately that they and their friends are not extremely progressive at all, support Israel, and recognize that Hamas is a terrorist group, but they are afraid to cancel and socially ostracized.

Which is likely to happen in this last round of data, it is that the surprise of Trump testifies to the political departure from this culture of silence and powerfully showed students that their bubbles in campus are not representative values ​​and views of the nation.

Trump’s winnings signaled, for example, America, that maintaining diversity, justice and inclusions that are lost and his Executive order The end of Dei for federal employees and the promotion of merit is a clear evidence. This victory opens the environment so that people can speak and call into question and move away from a sense of threat and danger to express themselves.

In my point of view as a professor, I now see so much fueled and excited students who finally feel that they can publicly talk about issues that matter to them without the same worries and problems that existed in Biden.

The return of Trump to the White House and the accompanying departure from the “politically correct” culture of intimidation and silence seems to be released for many students engaged in hostile colleges. While organized to the left, they continue to protest on campus such as Columbia and Sarah Lawrence, and noise on social networks, I feel real relief among the undergraduates who tell me that the weight is lifted.

Even before Trump entered the White House for the second time, there were bold undergraduates who had enough to hide their views, rejected the unly liberal crazy campus and wanted to be intellectually honest. WITH New -York post newly reported These potential conservative students are no longer afraid to express and proudly reveal their political views.

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One college consultant in New -York even argued that students now believe that “… this I believe and I’m going to talk about it. And if the reception officer does not agree with me in principle and rejects me, that’s good because This is me, and it’s not a school for me. ” Students feel more comfortable to speak and interrogate openly and honestly – they need to be at the heart of higher education.

Thus, I suspect that a sudden, new support for Israel among young Americans is not a factual change in the attitude to Israel. What we disclose in the data now is more reliable answers that capture the true beliefs of young people who finally come with Trump’s victory. The ideals and values ​​of the new White House are released by many young Americans and the previous norms of intimidation, censorship and abolition of culture are destroyed. The variety of views, finally, prevails and is noted again.

Samuel J. Abrams is a professor at Sarah Lawrence College and Senior Researcher at the Institute of American Enterprise.