Recent polling has unveiled a concerning trend of rising anti-Semitic sentiments among young Americans, with many perceiving that Jewish people exploit the Holocaust for political purposes.

A survey conducted by JL Partners for the Daily Mail reveals that half of voters aged 18 to 29 believe Jews are leveraging the tragic history of the Holocaust, where six million lives were lost, for political gain—a perspective that sees a significant decline among older demographics.

The poll asked participants if they agreed with the statement: “Jewish people talk about the Holocaust just to advance their political agenda.” Alarmingly, 51 percent of younger respondents concurred, underscoring what specialists interpret as a disturbing rise in anti-Semitism within Generation Z.

This data emerges amid tensions in the Middle East, where the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas faces challenges due to intermittent violence, threatening to escalate the conflict that has already claimed numerous lives. Meanwhile, Israel’s potential annexation of additional territory in the West Bank adds to the unrest.

The ongoing two-year conflict has exacerbated generational divides in the U.S., with numerous students actively protesting against Israel. These demonstrations have occasionally spiraled into violent, anti-Semitic incidents.

In a historic political shift, New York City, known for its significant Jewish community, is poised to elect its first Muslim mayor, Zohran Momdani, in just 21 days. Momdani has garnered substantial support from Gen Z voters, following his strong criticism of Israel’s actions, which he described as a “genocidal war.”

He sparked controversy last week by posing with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, a Brooklyn-based Muslim cleric who was named by federal prosecutors as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Wahhaj traffics in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, including that the WTC bombing was carried out by Mossad.

The Daily Mail poll found that older Americans are far less likely to agree with anti-Jewish rhetoric, in stark contrast with younger voters. 

A protester holds a placard of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dressed in Nazi uniform during a No Kings demonstration in New York on Saturday

Zohran Momdani (center) sparked controversy when he posted a glowing photo with Imam Siraj Wahhaj (right), who he described as ‘one the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders’. Wahhaj, a Brooklyn-based Muslim cleric who was named by federal prosecutors as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing

Festival-goers flee from the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023

Only 26 percent of all respondents agreed with the statement that Jewish people use the Holocaust for politics, with 43 percent disagreeing. 

The disturbing trend deepens when young voters are asked whether ‘Israel can get away with anything because its supporters control the media and politics.’

A shocking 57 percent of respondents aged 18-29 either strongly or somewhat agreed with the conspiracy theory—a sentiment that echoes historical anti-Semitic tropes about Jewish control.

More than half of young voters—55 percent—also believe ‘Israel and its supporters are a bad influence on our democracy,’ the poll found.

That view also stands in stark contrast to older Americans: When all age groups are included, only 28 percent support the statement while 34 percent reject it outright.

The JL Partners survey collected online responses from 1,004 registered voters between October 14-15, with a margin of error of 3.1 percent.

Anti-Semitic attitudes extend to age-old stereotypes about Jewish people and money, with a shocking 47 percent of young voters agreeing that ‘Jewish people chase money more than other people do.’

More than half—55 percent—of 18-29-year-olds also believe ‘Jewish people have too much power in the media’ compared to other groups, far outpacing older generations.

The poll findings come amid an alarming surge in anti-Semitic incidents nationwide. 

According to the Anti-Defamation League’s annual audit, there were 9,354 incidents of anti-Semitic assault, harassment and vandalism across the US in 2024—representing a nearly 900 percent increase over the past 10 years and the highest level recorded since the organization began tracking data in 1979. 

The generational divide on Israel has been years in the making. At the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, dozens of pro-Palestinian protests erupted across elite US universities including Columbia, Harvard, Yale and UCLA, led largely by young students and campus organizers.

President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the West Wing of the White House, Tuesday, February 4

The shift in American opinion comes as multiple close US allies—including France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada—have recognized Palestinian statehood, adding international pressure on Washington.

Even among Trump supporters, views are evolving: A Reuters poll released Monday found that 41 percent of Republicans now support recognizing Palestinian statehood, though 53 percent remain opposed. Among Democrats, support soars to 80 percent.

In a speech this week, Sen. Ted Cruz chose to highlight anti-Semitism on the right over the last six months.

‘If I pick up my phone and send out a tweet, if I say good morning, within minutes I will have hundreds of blatantly anti-Semitic responses,’ he told an audience noting that prominent conservative commentators have attempted to sanitize Adolf Hitler’s worst sins.

‘This poison of anti-Semitism on the right, it is spreading with young people,’ Cruz added. 

Vice President JD Vance visited Israel this week to shore up the fragile Hamas-Israel ceasefire, but said Thursday he was ‘insulted’ by the Israeli parliament’s vote to annex the occupied West Bank.

Trump has warned he would cut off all support to Israel if they proceed with annexation, having privately promised Arab leaders he would restrain the Israeli government.