77% Have Unfavorable View Of Palestinians
A new poll, published by Gallup, has shown that Americans overwhelmingly have a favorable view of Israel and an unfavorable view of the Palestinians. The Gallup poll, released on March 7, 2013, showed that two-thirds of Americans (66%) have a favorable view of Israel, but only 15% have a favorable view of the Palestinians. While 29% of Americans have an unfavorable view of Israel, 77% have an unfavorable view of the Palestinians. In other results, nearly 9 out of 10 Americans have an unfavorable view of Iran (87% unfavorable versus 9% favorable). (Frank Newport & Igor Himelfarb, ‘Americans Least Favorable Toward Iran,’ Gallup, March 7, 2013).
These results are consistent with the results of several recent surveys (as well as others during the period 2009–2010, the findings of which can be found here):
- December 2012 Pew Research Center for the People & the Press national survey found that by a ratio of 5-to-1, Americans sympathize more with Israel (50%) than with the Palestinians (10%). Support for Israel is consistent, though varying in degree, across the political spectrum. Conservative Republicans back Israel over the Palestinians by 75% to 2%; moderate/liberal Republicans by 60% to 4%; Independents by 47% to 13%; conservative/moderate Democrats by 46% to 8%; and liberal Democrats by 33% to 22%. (‘Public Says U.S. Does Not Have Responsibility to Act in Syria: Israel Support Unchanged in Wake of Gaza Conflict,’ Pew Research Center for the People & the Press national survey, December 14, 2012).
- November 2012: A CNN/ORC International poll showed that, in response to the question – “In the Middle East situation, are your sympathies more with the Israelis or more with the Palestinians?” 59% of Americans answered that their sympathies were with the Israelis, as opposed to only 13% who said their sympathies were with the Palestinians. These results were consistent with those produced by the same question in January 2009 (60% – 17%) and May 2011 (67% – 16%) (CNN/ORC International poll, November 19, 2012).
- September 2012: A Foreign Policy Initiative poll found that 70% of Americans view Israel favorably as opposed to 24% who view it unfavorably. When asked in an open-ended question to name the country that is ‘America’s best ally in the world today,’ Israel (16%) came second only to the United Kingdom (54%) (September 2012 Foreign Policy Initiative poll, Independent Media Review Analysis, October 1, 2012).
- May 2011: A CNN poll found that 67% of Americans express sympathy for Israel rather than Palestinians, whereas only 16% expressed sympathy for Palestinians over Israelis. (This represents a rise of sympathy for Israel among the American public from 60%, and a drop of sympathy for Palestinians from 17% recorded in 2009). The poll also found that an overwhelming 82% of Americans regard Israel as either a U.S. friend or ally (44% regard Israel as an ally, 38% regard it as a friend), as opposed to a mere 17% of Americans who regard it as unfriendly or an enemy (12% regard it as unfriendly, a mere 5% as an enemy). Also, more than two-thirds of Americans – 67% – view Israel favorably (23% very favorably, 42% somewhat favorably) as against 33% of Americans who do not (24% somewhat unfavorably, 9% very unfavorably). 35% of Americans say the U.S. should take Israel’s side in its conflict with the Palestinian Arabs, while just a mere 1% favors backing the Palestinians (‘CNN Opinion Research Poll,’ May 31, 2011).
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “This latest survey demonstrates that levels of American regard and support for Israel remain high, consistent with past high levels of support for Israel and low levels of support for Palestinians, as the figures we provide confirm.
“This is the main reason why the U.S. Congress supports Israel – not merely because of the support for Israel of American Jews, but because of the overwhelming support for Israel of the general American public.”