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The Role of the United States - Public Opinion



  • PewPoll_IsraelisPalsObama.jpgDespite Their Wide Differences, Many Israelis and Palestinians Want Bigger Role for Obama in Resolving Conflict
  • Pew Research Center (May 9, 2013)
    Among other findings, shows that majorities of both Israelis and Palestinians both want U.S. President Barack Obama to play a larger role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate. Obama enjoys the confidence of 61% of Israelis, up 12 percentage points from 2011. Only 15% of Palestinians express confidence in Obama to do the right thing in world affairs, with 82% saying they have little or no confidence in the American president.

  • CNN_ORC Poll.pngSympathies with Israelis or Palestinians; Israeli attack on Gaza justified
  • CNN / ORC (November 16-18, 2012)
    Finds that 59% of Americans say their sympathies lie more with Israel, as opposed to just 13% who say their sympathies are more with the Palestinians. Also shows that 57% of Americans believe Israel justified in "taking military action against Hamas and the Palestinians in the area known as Gaza", while only 25% feel it is unjustified. (PDF)


  • Sadat_PIPA_USopinion.pngAmericans on the Middle East: A Study of American Public Opinion
  • The Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development / The Program on International Policy Attitudes (October 8, 2012)
    Among other findings, shows that two-thirds of Americans continue to express the view that the Arab-Israeli conflict is a "top five issue" in regard to its importance to U.S. foreign policy. Also shows that a plurality want the U.S. to maintain its current level of diplomatic activity in the Middle East. (PDF)


  • AAIpoll_USopinion.jpgAmerican Opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
  • Zogby Research Services / The Arab American Institute (August 2012)
    Finds that a plurality of Americans (40%) believe U.S. policy should steer a "middle course" between Israelis and Palestinians. Also finds strong bipartisan support for the idea that Israelis and Palestinians are "equal people entitled to equal rights," with 43% supporting a two-state solution, a shared Jerusalem, the evacuation of most settlements, and a Palestinian right of return to the new Palestinian state. Only 14% oppose such a plan.


  • Gallup_AmericanMuslims.jpgMost Muslim Americans See No Justification for Violence
  • Gallup (November 2011)
    Reveals that a large majority of Muslim Americans are most likely (89%) to reject violent attacks by individuals or small groups on civilians versus any other U.S. religious group. Also finds that 81% of Muslim Americans and 78% of Jewish Americans support a future in which an independent Palestinian state would coexist alongside of Israel.



  • WPO Poll.pngGrowing Majority of Americans Oppose Israel Building Settlements
  • WorldPublicOpinion.org (April 29, 2009)
    Finds that three-quarters of Americans think that Israel should not build settlements in the Palestinian territories, including 65% of Republicans and 83% of Democrats. Also shows that 51% express equal levels of sympathy for both Israelis and Palestinians.




  • APN_AAI Poll.jpgSeeing Eye to Eye: A Survey of Jewish American and Arab American Public Opinion
  • Americans for Peace Now / The Arab American Institute / Zogby International (May 2007)
    Survey of 501 Jewish Americans and an equal number of Arab Americans confirming that strong majorities in both communities remain committed to the right of both Israelis and Palestinians to live in secure and independent states; support a negotiated settlement to issues such as Jerusalem, refugees, and borders; and consider a resolution to the conflict in the U.S. national interest. Accordingly, Arab and Jewish American public opinion supports an end to the occupation and a freeze in West Bank settlement construction.