Israeli citizens largely prefer Donald Trump over Kamala Harris in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, saying the Republican former president is better for Israel's security than the Democrat vice president would be, a new poll from Langer Research Associates and PORI (Public Opinion Research Israel) found, ABC News reported.
According to the survey, 58% of Israeli respondents said Trump would be better for Israel's security, compared to 20% who said the same for Harris. If they were able to vote in the American election, Israelis said they would pick Trump over Harris, 54% to 24%.
Attitudes toward the U.S. presidential candidates split sharply among ethnic and religious groups, the poll revealed.
Trump was seen as better for Israel's security than Harris by 64% of Jews, while Arabs, who make up approximately 17% of Israel's adult population, essentially split on the issue, with 27% preferring Trump and 24% picking Harris. Thirty-six percent of Arabs saw no difference between the two candidates.
In terms of support for president, Jews favored Trump, 58%-23%, while Arabs split 28% for Trump versus 26% for Harris. The rest said they would not participate or did not express a candidate preference.
Pollsters also recorded gaps within the Jewish population. The shares saying Trump would be better for security ranged from 53% of secular Jews to 88% of Orthodox Jews.
Support for the presidency followed a similar pattern, with secular Jews preferring Trump 46%-35%, traditional Jews 65%-17%, and ultra-Orthodox Jews 69%-3%. Trump's support among a Jewish cohort peaked among Orthodox Jews, 85%-4%, according to the survey.
The preferences of Israeli Jews about the U.S. election stand in stark contrast to those of American Jews. In combined late August and mid-September polling from ABC News/Ipsos, U.S. Jews favored Harris over Trump 63%-33%.
Harris may do best with younger adults in the United States, but in Israel, Trump does better in this group, with 65% of respondents younger than 35 picking Trump for security and 58% supporting his candidacy for president. Those numbers drop to 52% on security and 48% support for president for Trump among Israelis 65 and older.
Trump also comes out on top with Israelis when it comes to strength of sentiment. Overall, 30% said they would "surely" support Trump for president, while 10% said the same about Harris. Thirty-seven percent said Trump would be "much" better for Israel's security, compared to 12% who said the same thing about Harris.
The poll was conducted Sept. 8-22 and surveyed 1,012 Israelis. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 points.