Published time: March 18, 2013 21:17
US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (AFP Photo / Mandel Ngan)
New data shows that 55 percent of Americans sympathize with Israel over Palestine, while only 9 percent side with Palestine. But despite the stark preference for the Jewish nation, 70 percent of Americans wish the US would stay out of the conflict.
Thirty-six percent of respondents in the ABC News / Washington Post poll said they were undecided or favored neither country. But of those who picked a side, 86 percent chose Israel over Palestine, confirming the stark preference that has existed since similar questions were first asked in the 1980s.
But despite 64 percent of respondents siding with a country, two-thirds said they do not want the US to have a leading role in the conflict. And of those who had no preference, 70 percent said the US should stay uninvolved.
A second poll, published on Friday by Gallup, is consistent with the findings of the one conducted for ABC News. Gallup found that 64 percent of Americans sympathize for Israel, which is up from the 60 percent who said so in 2010 and is “the highest-recorded in a quarter century”. Only 12 percent of respondents said they sympathized more with Palestine.
And Israeli sympathy has been on the rise: since Gallup first asked the question in 1988, there has been a steady increase in preference for Israel and a steady decrease in those who had no opinion or favored neither side.
The results come as US President Barack Obama prepares for his visit to Israel, Palestine and Jordan on Wednesday.
But despite Americans’ preference for the Jewish state, the feelings are one-sided. Israeli sympathy for Americans has gradually declined. Many blame President Obama for failing to keep up the relationship with Israel. For example the president did not sit down with an Israeli journalist until July 2010.
In 2009, the Jerusalem Post reported that only 4 percent of Israeli Jews viewed Obama as more pro-Israel, while 51 percent believed he was pro-Palestinian. Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post says that Israelis are surprised that such a pro-Israel country elected a president who “they see as hostile to them”.
But as Obama visits Palestine and Israel this week, most Americans hope for him to stay out of the conflict.
“When it comes to US involvement in the peace process, there’s agreement across religious, partisan and ideological groups (from 66 to 70 percent) that the two sides should handle negotiations themselves,” the ABC report states.
What you dont understand is that every Land was/is given a Mandate, Laws and territory. The Land of Israel is Mandated, via the League of Nations. There is no such place as Palestine, That term was ” to be given ” to the Land of Israel when the Romans and Philistines removed Israel into the Sea. “It did NOT happen “, The Arabs in the Land only started using the term when Israel became a Sovereign State in 1948. Arabs belong to Saudi, maybe you should buy a map. What you also don’t understand is that Arabs are also Muslim, because they took on the teaching of Muhammed, who was from Mekka, Saudi and anyone that adopts or alies to them are by Adoption, Arab aka Ishmaelites. The Quran teachs in Surah 5, that the land belongs to the Hebrews/Jews. The reason why there are other cultures living in the Land of Israel is because the end of the age has not arrived, The End of the Gentile period,which is almost here!
abc is full of shit but whats new.And most of America we be on Palestines side any day. I feel strongly for forcing Israel out of other peoples land. The have stolen more land then should have ever let happen on the Planet.
I don’t think more people support Israel then don’t not in America not in the World. No god loving person would not on this Planet.
Israel, is a murdering war machine and a state created in 1948 by the US and the UN and nothing more. It is a power hungry monster just like it’s creators. When first created, it was just a small state, which has murdered, robbed and destroyed to get where it is today.
Oh, Warren, there is so much more than you seem to know. It goes so much deeper . . . I don’t know where to tell you to begin – if you have interest. Probably David Icke’s post from a couple years ago . . . Rothschild Zionism They Dare not Speak Its Name – http://jhaines6.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=54323&action=edit If you haven’t already seen it, this is worth every minute of the time it takes to read it. . . Hugs, ~Jean
Statistics and polls are not always to be trusted and are often used to create opinions and followers.
check out the handshake btwn Netanyaho & O. Observe whose hand is in the dominant position.
lainski1
That’s very observant on your part. Body language is everything. I just purchased a very interesting book on the topic and I’m now retraining my self to become more observant and aware of people’s body language (including facial expressions and the obvious one about their ‘eyes’. ) Kudos to you.