Saturday, November 12, 2011

Poll Watch: Anti-Defamation League Survey: American Attitudes Toward Israel, the Palestinians and Prospects for Peace in the Middle East

ADL Survey: American Attitudes Toward Israel, the Palestinians and Prospects for Peace in the Middle East

Thinking specifically about the current conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, are your sympathies more with Israel or the Palestinians?
  • Israel 49%
  • Palestinians 18%
Israel can be counted on as a strong, loyal U.S. ally.
  • Strongly agree 42%
  • Agree 31%
  • Disagree 11%
  • Strongly disagree 7%
Which do you believe? Israel is a crucial American ally, OR America’s relationship with Israel hurts us with the rest of the world?
  • Israel is a crucial American ally 61%
  • America's relationship with Israel hurts us with the rest of the world 24%
Over the past six months, do you think the situation between Israel and the Palestinians has improved, worsened or stayed about the same?
  • Improved 6%
  • Worsened 27%
  • Stayed about the same 58%
(If Worsened) Who do you think is primarily responsible for this change, Israel or the Palestinians?
  • Palestinians 56%
  • Israel 26%
Which of these next two statements is closest to your own view?
  • A Palestinian state must not be established until Palestinians demonstrate a commitment to end violence and accept Israel's legitimacy. 58%
  • The peace process will be strengthened by the creation of a Palestinian state as soon as possible. 22%
Which statement is closest to your own?
  • Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are the only appropriate way to create a Palestinian state. 52%
  • Because of the stalemate in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, the UN should vote to make Palestine an independent state. 28%
One of the most significant areas of disagreement between the Israel and the Palestinians is the construction of Israeli housing within the city of Jerusalem. Which of the following statements is closest to your own view?
  • Israeli leaders say that Jerusalem is – and always will be – the capital of Israel – and they have every right to build housing in their nation’s capital. 54%
  • Palestinian leaders say that Israel must immediately stop all construction in areas still under dispute – including disputed neighborhoods in Jerusalem. 29%
Do you think the Arab Spring will lead to lasting improvements for people living in these countries?
  • Will lead to lasting improvements 42%
  • Will not lead to lasting improvements 36%
Do you think the Arab Spring will end up being good for the U.S., bad for the U.S. or won’t have much effect on the U.S.?
  • Good for the U.S. 25%
  • Bad for the U.S. 28%
  • Won't have much of an effect 31%
Which of these next two statements is closest to your own view?
  • It is important for the U.S. to work with emerging Arab democracies like Tunisia and Egypt, even if it means weakening our strong relationship with Israel. 40%
  • The U.S. has a moral and strategic obligation to keep our relationship with Israel strong, even if this means weakening our relationship with the Arab world. 39%
Which of the following describes your view of Iran: Iran is an immediate threat to the security of the Middle East, a threat to the security of the Middle East in the near future, a potential threat further down the road, or no threat at all?
  • Immediate threat 38%
  • Threat in the near future 14%
  • Potential threat further down the road 32%
  • No threat at all 7%
Do you think that Israel should take military action to keep Iran from developing or trying to develop a nuclear weapons program?
  • Yes 57%
  • No 31%
Do you think that the United States should take military action to keep Iran from developing or trying to develop a nuclear weapons program?
  • Yes 50%
  • No 44%
Which of these next two statements is closest to your own view?
  • American Jews stifle debate about U.S. policy toward Israel and the Middle East. 25%
  • The national debate about U.S. policy toward Israel and the Middle East is vigorous and wide open. 52%
Survey of 1,200 adults was conducted October 13-23, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 2.8 percentage points.

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