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American Views on Palestinian Statehood

(1988 - Present)

Note: We are presenting raw data. We provide some or all of the crosstabs (i.e., breakdowns by various categories such as party ID) when available. To analyze the data, we encourage users to read the entire study and the methodology used. Results and reliability can be affected by sample size, question wording, and question order. Context and timing may also influence responses, for example, if the survey is conducted during a war.


Graph of Gallup Polls on Palestinian Statehood

“Do you Support or Oppose the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip?”

Month

Year

Pollster

Support

Oppose

Contextual Timeline

February 2024 Gallup 53% 34% Hamas War
August 2023 AP/NORC 22% 15%  
July 2021 Chicago Council 49% 42% Operation Guardian of the Walls
February 2021 Gallup 52% 37% Biden Inaugurated
February 2020 Gallup
55%
34%
Trump Peace Plan / Israeli Elections
February 2019 Gallup
50%
39%
 
July 2018 Chicago Council 49% 41%  
February 2018 Gallup
47%
39%
U.S. Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital
February 2017 Gallup
45%
42%
 

February

2016

Gallup

44%

37%

U.S. Presidential Election

September

2015

AJC

52%

46%

Operation Protective Edge
June 2015 Chicago Council 45% 42%  

February

2015

Gallup

42%

38%

 

February

2014

Gallup

46%

36%

February

2013

Gallup

44%

37%

Israeli Elections

Febraury

2012

Gallup

51%

37%

 

October

2011

Quinnipiac/Israel Project

44%

35%

Shalit Exchange Deal

June

2011

Quinnipiac/Israel Project

45%

30%

 

May

2009

Gallup

51%

29%

Netanyahu Assumes Office

January

2009

McClatchy/Ipsos

31%

45%

Operation Cast Lead

January

2007

POS

62%

20%

 

 

May

2003

Gallup

58%

22%

June 2002 Chicago Council 40% 35%  

May

2002

Gallup

48%

27%

Operation Defensive Shield

April

2002

Zogby International

72%

14%

April

2002

Wall Street Journal/NBC News

46%

7%

March

2002

Newsweek

39%

44%

December

2001

Newsweek

40%

39%

 

November

2001

Newsweek

33%

39%

October

2001

CBS/New York Times

38%

29%

Start of Second Intifada

October

2001

Newsweek

33%

35%

July

2000

Gallup

40%

24%

Withdrawal from Lebanon

May

1999

Gallup

53%

26%

 

November

1998

Gallup

36%

26%

June

1996

Newsweek

35%

39%

Signing of Oslo Accords

October

1994

Gallup

39%

20%

September

1991

American Voters

53%

21%

 

September

1991

Arab American Institute

53%

21%

February

1991

Marttila & Kiley

58%

20%

June

1990

CBS/New York Times

47%

25%

September

1989

Anti-Defamation League

25%

63%

September

1989

Marttila & Kiley

50%

37%

July

1988

Los Angeles Times

40%

24%

Start of First Intifada

April

1988

American Jewish Committee

42%

43%

January

1988

YCS

22%

42%

 
Average all polls (43)
45%
33%
 
Average Gallup (17)
47%
32%
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you think that the long-term answer to the Israel-Palestinian dispute is for...? (Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll, October 18, 2023)

Arab states to absorb the Palestinians

23%

There to be two states: Israel and Palestine 63%
Israel to be ended and given to Hamas and the Palestinians 15%

Do you think that the land on Israel is historically the homeland of the Jewish people or the homeland of the Palestinian people? (Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll, October 18, 2023)

Homeland of the Jewish people

76%

Homeland of the Palestinian people 24%

Do you think the United States does or does not have a responsibility to work toward Palestinian statehood? (ABC News/IPSOS, October 13-14, 2023)

Does

31%

Does not

63%

In your opinion, would you say the following are acceptable or unacceptable solutions to the ongoing conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians? (% acceptable)  (Chicago Council Surveys, July 7-26, 2021, September 7-18, 2023)

  2021 2023

Two-state solution

56%

60%

One-state solution with full equality

60%

61%

Continuation of the status quo

26%

33%

Do you Support or Oppose the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip? [not exact wording] (AP-NORC, August 10-14, 2023)

Favor

22%

Oppose

15%

Neither favor nor oppose

58%

Do you favor or oppose the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip? (% favor) (Chicago Council Surveys, July 7-26, 2021)

  1994 1998 2002 2015 2018 2021
  Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Favor Oppose
Republican

 

 

31%

 

39%

 

29%

71%

36%

 

33%

 
Democrat

 

 

36%

 

40%

 

61%

39%

62%

 

62%

 
Independent

 

 

39%

 

44%

 

42%

58%

46%

 

50%

 
Total

39%

20%

36%

26%

40%

35%

45%

44%

49%

41%

49%

42%

Do you think a way can be found for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully with each other, or not?

 
Pew
(May 2016)

AP-NORC
(June 2021)

Yes 50%
57%
No 42%
39%

In the Middle East there should be... (Harvard-Harris, March 2017)

One Israeli state with some areas supervised by Palestinians

26%

Two independent states, Israel and Palestine

74%

 

As you may know, there have been suggestions that the UN Security Council should endorse the establishment of a Palestinian state. This idea has received some support in Europe, but opposition in Israel. If the UN Security Council considers such a plan, what do you think the US should do as a member of the UN Security Council? (Note: this survey contains an oversample of self-identified Evangelical Christians) (University of Maryland, December 2015)

 

Republican

Independent

Democrat

Total

Vote in favor of a Palestinian state

18%

15%

39%

27%

Vote against a Palestinian state, including using America's veto power

43%

13%

15%

26%

Abstain from voting

37%

65%

42%

43%

Don't know/refuse to answer

3%

7%

4%

4%


Do you favor or oppose the establishment of an independent Palestinian state? (The Chicago Council, November 2015)

Party affiliation

Favor

Oppose

Republican

46%

54%

Democrat

67%

33%

Independent

60%

40%



If the Palestinians proceed with their statehood bid plan at the UN, what should the US do as a member of the UN Security Council? (The Brookings Institution, December 2014)

Abstain from voting

45%

Vote against the establishment of a Palestinian state (use America's Security Council veto)

27%

Vote in favor of the establishment of a Palestinian state

25%

Refused to answer

3%


Which of these two statements is closest to your own view? (ADL, October 23, 2011)

 

2007

2009

2011

"The peace process will be strengthened by the creation of a Palestinian state as soon as possible."

26%

23%

22%

"A Palestinian state must not be established until Palestinians demonstrate a commitment to end violence and accept Israel's legitimacy."

52%

56%

58%

Which statement is closest to your own view? (ADL, October 23, 2011)

"Because of the stalemate in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, the UN should vote to make Palestine an independent state."

28%

"Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are the only appropriate way to create a Palestinian state."

52%

Do you think that if the Palestinians were given their own state in the West Bank and Gaza they would live peacefully with Israel or continue their campaign of terror to destroy Israel? (Independent Media Review Analysis, September 2011)

Live peacefully

14.6%

Continue terror

74.2%

(DK/refused)

11.2%

What is your opinion on establishing a Palestinian state now? (POS, January 2007)

Create Palestinian state now
25%
There should not be a Palestinian state until Palestinian leaders end the terror and recognize Israel's right to exist
60%

Which of the following statements is closest to your own view? (ADL)

 

2003

2005

Palestinians deserve their own homeland -- an independent state. Peace in the Middle East will be strengthened by the creation of this state as soon as possible.

45%

31%

A Palestinian state should only be established after Palestinians end the terrorist violence and accept Israel's legitimacy.

38%

59%

Do you agree or disagree that Israelis and Palestinians are equal people entitled to equal rights? (Zogby International, April 2-4, 2002)

Agree
93%
Disagree
5%
NS
3%

Do you see U.S. endorsement of a Palestinian state as making peace in the Middle East more likely or less likely - or not making much difference either way? (Newsweek)

 
More likely
Less likely
Make no difference
No Opinion
Dec. 2001
33%
17%
42%
8%
Oct. 2001
27%
19%
47%
7%

Do you think the United States should or should not recognize Palestine as an independent nation? (ABC News, Oct. 8-9, 2001)

Should
55%
Should not
28%
No Opinion
17%

I'd like to find out what you think the impact of the United States endorsing the idea of a Palestinian state would be. First, do you think this would help the United States' effort to build a coalition to fight terrorism, hurt the U.S. effort, or would it not make any difference? (Newsweek, Oct. 4-5, 2001)

Help fight against terrorism
35%
Hurt fight against terrorism
11%
Make no difference
43%
Don't know
11%

Next, do you think this would help Israel, hurt Israel or would it not make any difference? (Newsweek, Oct. 4-5, 2001)

Help Israel
24%
Hurt Israel
29%
Make no difference
34%
Don't know
13%

Next, do you think this would help the Palestinian people, hurt them or would it not make any difference? (Newsweek, Oct. 4-5, 2001)

Help the Palestinian people
38%
Hurt the Palestinian people
19%
Make no difference
32%
Don't know
11%

President Bush has said that there ought to be a Palestinian state, provided that it recognizes the right of Israel to exist. Do you support or do you oppose this position? (Program on International Policy Attitudes, November 1-4, 2001)

Support
76.8%
Oppose
12.7%
Don't know/Refused
10.4%

The Palestinians had their land taken away from them unfairly when Israel was created. Now they deserve a fair deal, including a sovereign state of their own that can exist alongside Israel. Do you strongly agree with this statement, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with this statement? (Penn, Schoen & Berland Inc., and First International Resources Inc., January 25 and February 17, 2001)

 
General 
Public
Elites
American Jews 
  Influential Americans
Strongly agree   

32%   

28%

19%

0%

Somewhat agree 

37%   

45%

29%

0%

Somewhat disagree 

11%   

11%

15%

0%

Strongly disagree  

14%  

10% 

33%

0%

Don't know  

7%   

6%

4%

0%

Do you support the concept of land for peace? [not exact wording] (Arab American Institute, September, 1991

Yes
50%
No
27%

Do you think the United States has a moral responsibility to help establish a homeland for the Palestinian people, or not? (Time/CNN May 8, 1991)

 
May 1991
April 1991
Yes
35%
34%
No
53%
55%
Not sure
12%
11%

The Impact Of A Palestinian State:

 
Increase Conflict
Create Peace
ADL 9/89
41
46 ?
M&K 4/88
44
46

More Americans are unsure whether a Palestinian state would threaten Israel's security or not. (ADL, 1988)

 
Jan.
May
A threat
47
41
Not a threat
33
26
Don't know
20
33

As you may know, the Palestinians in the Middle East want to establish a homeland for Palestinians on territory occupied by Israel since 1967. Do you think the Palestinians are right or wrong in wanting to establish a homeland in Israeli-occupied territory, or haven't you paid much attention to it? (Roper)

 
October 1982
July 1983
October 1985
February 1988
February 1989
Right
14%
13%
12%
12%
14%
Right, but methods wrong (vol)
38%
35%
31%
33%
37%
Wrong
24%
20%
22%
20%
20%
Don't know
13%
18%
18%
19%
19%
Haven't paid attention
25%
27%
28%
28%
24%

Do you favor or oppose giving the Palestinians a homeland in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip? (Los Angeles Times, July 5-10, 1988)

Favor
40%
Oppose
24%
Not Sure
36%

If a Palestinian state were created on the West Bank and in Gaza, would that be a threat to Israel's existence? (Penn and Schoen/ADL, April 29-May 11, 1988)

Would be a threat
41%
No threat
26%
Don't know
33%

I'm going to read you some suggestions people have made for dealing with the current situation in Israel. Tell me whether you favor or oppose each one. If you have no opinion, please just say so. (Peter Hart/Chicago Tribune, April 21-23, 1988)

Setting up a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza

Favor
38%
Oppose
23%
No opinion
39%

For each [statement about an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank] tell me if you tend to agree or disagree… (Harris, July 11-August 3, 1980)

The Palestinian people are now homeless and deserve their own independent state, just as much as the Jews deserved a homeland after World War II.

Agree
71%
Disagree
12%
Not Sure
17%

Do you feel that...if Israel could be assured of its security from attack, then it ought to agree to let the Palestinian Arabs set up an independent state on the West Bank...or don't you feel this is so? (Harris, July 11-August 3, 1980)

Agree
56%
Disagree
16%
Not Sure
28%

As a result of the 1967 war, Israel now controls land that was formerly controlled by Arab nations. What do you think Israel should do -- give back part of this land, give back all of this land, or keep all of this land? (Gallup, June 3-6, 1977)

 
June 1977
October 1977
Give back part of this land
35%
36%
Give back all of this land
16%
13%
Keep all of this land
24%
26%
Don't know
25%
25%