American Attitudes Toward the Middle East

8/6/2019 American Attitudes Toward the Middle East

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Israel Supporter Palestinian SupporterNeither/Dont Know/

Refused

** Trend from joint research by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner and Public Opinion Strategies.

Disengagement

Lebanon

Crisis in

Egypt

Flotilla Incident Talks

Stall

Peace talks

renew

Gaza War

Israel-Hamas Truce

Annapolis

Now, thinking about the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in the Middle East,

please tell me whether, in general, you think America should be... A strong supporter of Israel, asupporter of Israel, a supporter of the Palestinians ...or... a strong supporter of the Palestinians?

Voters continue to believe the US should side withIsrael in the conflict with the Palestinians.


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For each of the following people or groups of people, please rate each one using a one to one hundred

scale, where one means you have a cold/very unfavorable feeling toward that person and one hundredmeans you have a warm/very favorable feeling toward that person, and fifty is neutral. Of course, you

can choose any number between one and one hundred depending on how you feel

A majority of voters continue to viewIsrael positively.

Warm

Cold

51%

20%

Warm Cold

Israel



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scale, where one means you have a cold/very unfavorable feeling toward that person and one hundredmeans you have a warm/very favorable feeling toward that person, and fifty is neutral. Of course, you

can choose any number between one and one hundred depending on how you feel

Americans view of the Palestinianscontinues to erode.

Warm

Cold

16%

48%

The Palestinians


Warm Cold


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scale, where one means you have a cold/very unfavorable feeling toward that person and one hundred

means you have a warm/very favorable feeling toward that person, and fifty is neutral. Of course, youcan choose any number between one and one hundred depending on how you feel

Warm

Cold

Iran is viewed very unfavorably by Americans.

7%

70%

Warm Cold


Iran


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Warm/Favorable: 51+ Cold/Unfavorable:


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Voters believe the conflict is more about ideologyand religion than land.

I am going to read you two statements about this conflict, and after I read them,please tell me which statement you agree with more...

The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is

really about land. Once agreements are reached on

how to divide Jerusalem and establishing borders,the two sides can achieve a peace agreement.

The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is

about ideology and religion. The two sides canachieve a peace agreement only when they

acknowledge each others right to exist.

or


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LandIdeology/Religion Land

By Party

Ideology/ReligionLand

This sentiment cuts across party lines...

Ideology/Religion

I am going to read you two statements about this conflict, and after I read them, please tell me which

statement you agree with more... The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is really about

land. Once agreements are reached on how to divide Jerusalem and establishing borders, the twosides can achieve a peace agreement ...or... The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is about

ideology and religion. The two sides can achieve a peace agreement only when they acknowledge

each others right to exist.


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LandIdeo/Rel

Age groups

LandIdeo/Rel Land

Ideo/Rel Land

Ideo/Rel Land

Ideo/Rel

By Age



land. Once agreements are reached on how to divide Jerusalem and establishing borders, the two

sides can achieve a peace agreement ...or... The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is about




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LandIdeology/Religion Land

By Ethnicity

Ideology/ReligionLand

Ethnicity

Ideology/Religion



land. Once agreements are reached on how to divide Jerusalem and establishing borders, the twosides can achieve a peace agreement ...or... The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is about




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LandIdeo/Rel

And region.

LandIdeo/Rel Land

Ideo/Rel Land

Ideo/Rel

By Region



land. Once agreements are reached on how to divide Jerusalem and establishing borders, the two

sides can achieve a peace agreement ...or... The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is about




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Now, thinking about possible actions regarding the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians

Some Palestinian leaders, like Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, have suggested that

the Palestinians break the stalemate and unilaterally declare an independent Palestinian state

WITHOUT a signed peace treaty with Israel.

Would you support or oppose the Palestinians doing this? (N=393)

Support Oppose

32%

Strongly

9%

Strongly

A majority of Americans continue to oppose aunilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.

Support Oppose

29%

Strongly12%

Strongly


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Support Oppose Support

By Party

OpposeSupport

Opposition on this issue cuts across party lines.

Oppose

Now, thinking about possible actions regarding the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians

Some Palestinian leaders, like Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, have suggested that

the Palestinians break the stalemate and unilaterally declare an independent Palestinian stateWITHOUT a signed peace treaty with Israel.

Would you support or oppose the Palestinians doing this? (N=393)


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Now, thinking about possible actions regarding the conflict between Israel and the PalestiniansSome Palestinian leaders, like Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, have voiced an intention to seek

recognition of a Palestinian state from the United Nations this September without a negotiated peace

agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. If this issue is brought up in the UN, should the US

government SUPPORT or OPPOSE the UN resolution recognizing a unilaterally declared Palestinian

state without a peace agreement between the parties? (N=407)

Support Oppose

43%

Strongly

17%Strongly

If the issue is presented to the UN this September,voters strongly believe the U.S. government

should oppose the resolution.


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By Party

Opposition cuts across partisan lines.Now, thinking about possible actions regarding the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians

Some Palestinian leaders, like Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, have voiced an intention to seek

recognition of a Palestinian state from the United Nations this September without a negotiated peace

agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. If this issue is brought up in the UN, should the USgovernment SUPPORT or OPPOSE the UN resolution recognizing a unilaterally declared Palestinian

state without a peace agreement between the parties? (N=407)

Support Oppose Support OpposeSupportOppose


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Fully 50% of voters believe a peace agreementwill be less likely if the UN General Assembly

recognizes a Palestinian state.I am going to read you two statements and after I read them, please tell me which

statement you agree with more...

If the United Nations General Assembly votes to

recognize a Palestinian state it will help strengthen

the position of the Palestinian Authority and make an

agreement with Israel more likely.

If the United Nations General Assembly votes torecognize a Palestinian state without any

negotiations between Israel and Palestinians, it will

make an agreement with Israel less likely.

or


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And, a majority of voters believe it will onlyharden extremists on both sides.

I am going to read you two statements and after I read them, please tell me which


If the United Nations votes to recognize a Palestinian

state it will pressure Israel to make helpfulconcessions and make peace easier to achieve.

If the United Nations votes to recognize a Palestinianstate it will only harden extremists on both sides and

make peace much harder to achieve.

or


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Do you agree or disagree with the following statement...

In any final peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, Palestinian refugees should

move to a Palestinian state. Palestinians should not be allowed to move to Israel, even if they or

their ancestors originally lived there.

Agree Disagree

30%

Strongly

13%

Strongly

Just 27% of voters say that Palestinians shouldnot be allowed to move to Israel.


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A majority of voters believe the deal betweenHamas and Fatah is a bad idea.

I am going to read you two statements and after I read them, please tell me whichstatement you agree with more...

The agreement between Palestinian groups Hamas,

which controls Gaza, and Fatah, which controls the

West Bank, is a GOOD IDEA because now thePalestinians can speak with one voice, move to

elections and have one government.

The deal between Hamas and Fatah is a BAD IDEAbecause Hamas is backed by Iran and the US

government considers it a terrorist organization and

Hamas would have a bigger role among Palestinians.

or


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And, voters believe the Israelis should not workwith the new Palestinian government until they

recognize Israel and renounce violence.I am going to read you two statements and after I read them, please tell me which


Israelis should WORK with the new Hamas/Fatah

interim government that will be comprised of

technocrats and managers without party affiliation

until there are Palestinian elections.

Israelis should NOT WORK with the new Palestiniangovernment until Hamas is willing to abide by

previous agreements signed by Palestinian leaders

including recognizing Israel and renouncing violence.

or


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American Attitudes Toward the Middle East

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