An overwhelming majority of American Jews reject the extremist positions and disruptive tactics of the group Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), a new poll commissioned by The Jewish Majority revealed on Thursday.
The data, collected between December 16-24, 2024, from 800 Jewish adults, highlights a discrepancy between JVP’s anti-Zionist ideology and mainstream Jewish sentiment in the United States.
JVP, which played a central role in anti-Israel campus protests in 2024, claims to represent Jewish voices in political activism. However, the survey results show that most Jewish Americans view the organization’s stances as extreme and unrepresentative.
The report found that 70% of respondents considered anti-Zionist movements inherently antisemitic, while only 9% strongly disagreed, and 76% say the 2024 campus anti-Israel protests were antisemitic, while just 6% believed they were not at all antisemitic.
Only 10% strongly opposed US military aid to Israel, a position JVP has actively promoted.
The poll found that 85% of respondents believed Hamas seeks to commit genocide against Jews and Israel.
Rejection of JVP’s Tactics
JVP has been criticized for its disruptive activism, which includes blocking roads, demonstrating at officials’ homes, and concealing identities with masks. The poll indicates that American Jews condemn these actions.
75% of those polled believed blocking traffic as a form of protest is unacceptable; only 9% strongly approved. 60% opposed protests at the private homes of government officials, and 55% disapprove of wearing masks to conceal identities during demonstrations.
Broad Support for Zionist Organizations
The survey also found that American Jews strongly identified with established Jewish Zionist institutions:
79% supported or are members of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), 79% backed the Jewish National Fund (JNF), 74% aligned with the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and 73% supported the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA).
JVP, by contrast, opposes these organizations, further underscoring its marginal position within the Jewish community.
The Question of Representation
When asked about the legitimacy of Jewish advocacy groups, 71% of respondents said that for an organization to credibly represent Jewish Americans, it must be composed primarily of Jews. JVP has never publicly disclosed the religious composition of its membership, and reports indicate that some of its chapters have been founded or led by non-Jews.
Concerns About Rising Antisemitism
The survey underscores growing concerns about antisemitism, with 92% stating that antisemitic incidents have either remained constant or worsened over the past two to three years. Many attribute this trend to the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric, which some arguing that JVP enables by opposing standard definitions of antisemitism.
The Role of Social Media
The impact of social media on public discourse was another key issue, with 91% of respondents expressing concern that fringe movements gain disproportionate influence online. Nearly half (48%) said they were deeply troubled by the way social media amplifies radical viewpoints.