Short answer: Yes. Sam Harris, the neuroscientist, author, and host of the "Making Sense" podcast, is a strong public supporter of Israel, especially since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. He has repeatedly defended Israel's conduct in the Gaza war, argued that the moral gap between Israel and its enemies is "vast," and in a July 2025 essay said the global response to October 7 "made me a Zionist." That was a reversal: before the war he had argued on his own podcast that Israel should not exist as a Jewish state, calling that arrangement "obscene, irrational and unjustifiable." As of August 2026.
What Sam Harris has actually said and done
- May 29, 2012: In a Tablet Magazine interview, Harris described his relationship to Judaism as mostly incidental: "I was never a religious Jew. My mother is Jewish, so for some people I count as a Jew. But for me, being Jewish amounts to little more than just getting all the jokes in a Woody Allen movie." He added that people who fixate on his Jewishness tend to be antisemitic or conspiracy-minded.
- January 30, 2024: Harris published the essay and podcast episode "5 Myths about Israel and the War in Gaza" on SamHarris.org, rebutting common criticisms of Israel's conduct and arguing that pacifism cannot work against an enemy like Hamas.
- June 25, 2024: He republished and revised his essay "October 7" on his Substack, arguing the Hamas attack was in some ways worse in relative impact than 9/11, and defending Israel's moral position against Hamas.
- July 2, 2024: Harris released Making Sense episode "Anti-Zionism Is Antisemitism" on SamHarris.org, a conversation with Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Israel's Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and a former Knesset member, about antisemitism and Israel's treatment at the UN.
- July 3, 2025: In the essay "Islam, Israel, and the Tragedy of Gaza," published on his Substack, Harris wrote: "While I have no religious connection to Judaism, and have many misgivings about the current government of Israel, the global response to October 7th made me a Zionist," citing his reaction to the antisemitism and Holocaust denial that followed the attack.
- June 8, 2026: In a piece for The Free Press, "Why It's Futile to Debate Israel's Enemies," Harris wrote that he is "not interested in exploring all the ways that Israel has missed the mark" because "the ethical difference between Israel and her enemies remains vast," and called the global fixation on Israel as history's worst villain "contemptible."
Where his support comes from
Sam Harris is a neuroscientist, author, and secular commentator best known for his critiques of religion and his long-running podcast "Making Sense" (formerly "Waking Up"). He is not religious and was raised entirely secular; his mother is Jewish and his father came from a Quaker background, but Harris himself has said Jewish identity means little to him personally. That is part of what makes his post-October 7 turn notable: he describes his support for Israel as "ethical," not "tribal," rooted in what he sees as a stark moral asymmetry between a democratic state and groups like Hamas that he argues openly pursue genocidal aims.
Harris has also voiced criticism of specific Israeli figures and policies, including reservations about corruption allegations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the influence of religious extremists within Israeli politics. That criticism has not changed his overall position that Israel deserves defending, both against its enemies and against what he calls disproportionate global condemnation. His support has been expressed through essays, his podcast, and public debate rather than through in-person appearances or philanthropy tied specifically to Israel; there is no verified record of a personal visit to Israel or a direct financial donation to an Israeli cause.
The bottom line
Sam Harris is a clear, vocal supporter of Israel on ethical and civilizational grounds, a position that hardened after October 7, 2023, even though he is secular and has no personal religious tie to Judaism. His support is expressed through writing and podcasting rather than through visits, donations, or events, and it comes paired with open criticism of specific Israeli leaders and policies.
Wear your own support for Israel
Whether or not a public figure's stance lines up with yours, plenty of people want a simple, everyday way to show where they stand. Shop Israel's I Stand With Israel collection has pieces made for exactly that, from bracelets to tees, so your support does not stay a headline you read about, it becomes something you actually carry with you.
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Last updated August 2026. We update these profiles as the record changes.
