Bookstore Glossary Library Links News Publications Timeline Virtual Israel Experience
Anti-Semitism Biography History Holocaust Israel Israel Education Myths & Facts Politics Religion Travel US & Israel Vital Stats Women
donate subscribe Contact About Home

American Public Opinion Polls: Attitudes Toward the Peace Process

(2006 - 2008)

How committed do you think the Palestinian Authority, which controls the West Bank and is led by President Mahmoud Abbas, is to reaching a peace agreement with Israel? (The Israel Project National Survey, March 2008)

Committed 33%
Little/Not committed 61%

How committed do you think the Palestinian leadership in Gaza, led by Hamas, is to reaching a peace agreement with Israel? (The Israel Project National Survey, March 2008)

Committed 28%
Little/Not committed 70%

How committed do you think the Israeli government is to reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinians? (The Israel Project National Survey, March 2008)

Committed 66%
Little/Not committed 30%

Do you think that Israel should...Continue negotiations with the Palestinian Authority now?...or do you think that Israel should...Not negotiate with the Palestinian Authority until the terrorist attacks stop against Israel? (The Israel Project National Survey, March 2008)

 

Continue negotiations Not negotiate
Total 65% 30%
GOP (33%) 54% 42%
Independent (29%) 71% 23%
Democrats (37%) 72% 23%

Only when Israel gives up West Bank settlements and is willing to divide Jerusalem can there be peace with the Palestinians. (The Israel Project National Survey, March 2008)

Agree 40%
Disagree 52%

Which statement comes closer to your own personal view: “A peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians would reduce terrorism around the world.” or “A peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians would not have much of an impact on terrorism around the world.” (The Israel Project National Survey, December 10-12, 2007)

Much closer/Reduce terrorism
23%
Somewhat closer/Reduce terrorism
20%
Somewhat closer/Not much of an impact
23%
Much closer/Not much of an impact
32%
Don't know/Refused
4%

Who do you think is more responsible for the improvement/worsening of the prospect for peace: the Israelis or the Palestinians? (ADL, October, 2007)

 
Responsible for improving
Responsible for worsening
Israelis
41%
23%
Palestinians
15%
47%

In the Middle East conflict, do you think the United States should take Israel's side, take the Palestinian's side, or not take either side?

Date
Poll
Israel's side
Palestinian's side
Not take either
No Opinion
           
December 2007
Israel Project
61%
10%
14%
6%
December 2006 PIPA
21%
1%
73%
5%
August 2005 Israel Project
29%
6%
52%
 
March 2005 ADL 13% 1% 78%  
January 2005 Israel Project
20%
1%
70%
 
December 2004 PIPA
19%
1%
77%
3%
November 2004 Israel Project
25%
2%
67%
 
July 2004 Israel Project
22%
1%
72%
 
March 23, 2004 Israel Project
31%
0%
64%
 
November 2003 Israel Project
31%
3%
62%
 
June 2003* Gallup 18% 4% 74% 4%
July 2002 Israel Project
23%
2%
68%
 
May 8, 2002 PIPA 22% 3% 67% 8%
April 29- May 1, 2002 Gallup 24% 2% 68% 6%
April 5-7, 2002 Gallup 22% 2% 71% 5%
November 1-4, 2001 PIPA 20% .6% 70% 9%
Sept. 2001 Gallup 27% 1% 63% 9%
July 2000 Gallup 16% 1% 74% 9%
Jan 2000 Gallup 15% 1% 72% 12%
Dec 1998 Gallup 17% 2% 73% 7%
May 1998 Gallup 15% 2% 74% 9%

*Asked of a half sample.

In your opinion, how serious are the leaders of Israel about wanting to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians -- very serious, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not at all serious? (ADL, October, 2007)

 
2003
2005
2007
Very serious
25%
30%
22%
Somewhat serious
70%
74%
65%

Do you believe that the bigger cause of violence in the Middle East is the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians or the conflict between moderates and extremists across a number of countries and groups? (POS, January 2007)

Between Israel and Palestinians 18%
Between moderates and extremists 71%

In general, do you consider yourself to be more pro-Israel or more pro-Palestinian? (POS National Survey, January 2007)

Date
Poll
Pro-Israel
Pro-Palestinian
Neither
Don't Know
December 2007 The Israel Project
62%
9%
15%
4%
January 2007 POS National Survey
50%
7%
 
 
November 2006 POS National Survey
54%
6%
 
 
September 2006 POS National Survey
53%
5%
 
 
August 2006 POS National Survey
56%
7%
 
 
July 2006 POS National Survey
45%
6%
 
 
May 2006 POS National Survey
52%
6%
 
 
January 2006 POS National Survey
45%
7%
 
 
August 2005 POS National Survey
38%
8%
 
 
February 2005 POS National Survey
40%
10%
 
 
November 2004 POS National Survey
49%
10%
 
 
September 2004 POS National Survey
48%
6%
 
 
July 2004 POS National Survey
47%
9%
 
 
March 2004 POS National Survey
52%
8%
 
 
January 2004 POS National Survey
52%
10%
 
 
November 2003 POS National Survey
47%
11%
 
 
August 2003 POS National Survey
42%
6%
 
 
July 2003 POS National Survey
48%
10%
 
 

 

 

NAT

(RV)

7/03

NAT

(RV)

8/03

NAT

(RV)

11/03

NAT

(RV)

1/04

NAT

(LV)

3/17

NAT

(LV)

3/23

NAT

(LV)

7/04

NAT

(LV)

9/04

NAT

(V)

11/04

Pro-Israel 48% 42% 47% 52% 52% 48% 47% 48% 49%
Pro-Palestinian 10% 6% 11% 10% 8% 8% 9% 6% 10%
 

NAT

(LV)

2/05

NAT

(LV)

8/05

NAT

(LV)

1/06

NAT

(RV)

5/06

NAT

(RV)

7/06

NAT

(LV)

8/06

NAT

(LV)

9/06

NAT

(V)

11/06

NAT

(RV)

1/07

Pro-Israel 40% 38% 45% 52% 45% 56%

53%

54% 50%
Pro-Palestinian 10% 8% 7% 6% 6% 7% 5% 6% 7%

Below are a number of actions or policies undertaken by the U.S. government since September 11, 2001. Please rate the impact of these actions or policies on protecting the American people from global terrorist networks and in advancing U.S. national security goals. (Foreign Policy Magazine and The Center for American Progress , May 23-June 26, 2007)

U.S. efforts in Middle East peace process

Negative 69
Positive 6
No Impact 24

In order to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, do you think the United States should -- [ROTATED: put more pressure on the Palestinians to make the necessary compromises (or) put more pressure on the Israelis to make the necessary compromises]? (Gallup)

 
2/07
02/08
More pressure on the Palestinians
39%
38%
More pressure on the Israelis
30%
25%
More pressure on both (vol.)
11%
15%
Not put more pressure on either (vol.)
10%
10%
No opinion
10%
11%

Do you think George W. Bush is -- or is not -- doing enough to find a peaceful solution to the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians? (Gallup)

D
 
6/02
2/07
2/08
Yes, is
61%
44%
46%
No, is not
28%
51%
47%
No opinion
11%
5%
7%

How committed do you think the US is to the goal of creating an independent and viable Palestinian state? (World Public Opinion.org, December 11, 2006)

Very committed
12%
Somewhat committed
43%
Not very commited
28%
Not at all committed
9%
Refused/Don't know
9%

What role do you think the U.S. should play in developing a peace agreement? (Gallup, August 18-20, 2006)

U.S. should take leading role
14%
The United Nations (UN) should take the leading role, but U.S. still involved
56%
U.S. should not get involved at all
29%
No opinion
2%

Do you think the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in the Middle East marks the beginning of a long-lasting peace between Israel and Hezbollah, or will only be temporary and fighting will soon break out again between Israel and Hezbollah?(Gallup, August 18-20, 2006)

Beginning of long-lasting peace
6%
Only temporary
91%
No opinion
3%

Do you think that the US should or should not invest more political effort and resources than it did in the past four years, toward resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict (Gallup, August 18-20, 2006)

U.S. should take leading role
14%
The United Nations (UN) should take the leading role, but U.S. still involved
56%
U.S. should not get involved at all
29%
No opinion
2%

What grade would you give the U.S. when it comes to achieving the following goals? Doing our best to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians. (Public Agenda)

D
 
6/05
1/06
9/06
A
16%
15%
13%
B
29%
29%
25%
C
30%
24%
34%
D
11%
12%
10%
F
7%
9%
12%
DK
7%
10%
6%

What grade would you give the U.S. when it comes to achieving the following goals? Doing our best to bring peace between Israel and the Arab world. (Public Agenda)

D
 
9/06
A
12%
B
26%
C
23%
D
17%
F
16%
DK
6%

Here are some criticisms of U.S. foreign policies that have been made in recent years. For each, please tell me if you find the criticism to be totally justified, partly justified or not justified at all. U.S. policies are too pro-Israel for the U.S. to be able to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians. (Public Agenda)

D
 
6/05
1/06
9/06
totally justified
21%
14%
23%
partly justified
41%
48%
47%
not justified at all
30%
25%
22%
DK
8%
12%
7%

Here are some criticisms of U.S. foreign policies that have been made in recent years. For each, please tell me if you find the criticism to be totally justified, partly justified or not justified at all. U.S. policies are too pro-Israel for the U.S. to be able to broker peace between Israel and the Arab world. (Public Agenda)

D
 
9/06
totally justified
18%
partly justified
47%
not justified at all
26%
DK
8%

Now, just suppose for a moment that the Palestinians who are holding the Israeli soldier do not release him... Which one of the following actions do you believe Israel should take? (The Israel Project, July 6-9, 2006)

Increase the pressure on the Palestinians through military action

52%

Give into the Palestinian demands by releasing more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners

17%

No opinion
31%

In the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has what you have seen, read or heard about this conflict recently given you a more favorable or less favorable impression of the Palestinians? (The Israel Project, July 6-9, 2006)

More Favorable

9%

Less Favorable

59%

No opinion
32%

Regardless of which side you generally support in this conflict…Who do you blame more for the current conflict in the Gaza Strip…Israel…OR…The Palestinians ? (The Israel Project, July 6-9, 2006)

Israel

15%

Palestinians

45%

Both
13%
No opinion
27%

Thinking about the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in the Middle East, please tell me, in general, whether you consider yourself to be…a strong supporter of Israel, a supporter of Israel, a supporter of the Palestinians or a strong supporter of the Palestinians? (The Israel Project, July 6-9, 2006)

Strong Supporter of Israel

22%

Supporter of Israel

23%

Strong Supporter of the Palestinians
1%
Supporter of the Palestinians
5%
Neither
40%
No opinion
9%

What do you think U.S. policy toward the Palestinian Authority should be? Do you think the U.S. should – conduct diplomatic relations with the Hamas government regardless of whether or not it recognizes Israel as a country, conduct diplomatic relations with Hamas only if it recognizes Israel as a country, or not conduct diplomatic relations with the Hamas government at all? (Gallup, February 6-9, 2006)

Regardless of whether or not it recognizes Israel

22%

Only if it recognizes Israel

44%

No relations at all

25%

No opinion
9%

What do you think U.S. policy toward the Palestinian Authority should be? Do you think the U.S. should – give financial aid to the Palestinian Authority regardless of whether or not the Hamas government recognizes Israel as a country, give financial aid to the Palestinian Authority only if Hamas recognizes Israel as a country, or not give any financial aid to the Palestinian Authority while the Hamas government is in power? (Gallup, February 6-9, 2006)

Regardless of whether or not it recognizes Israel

5%

Only if it recognizes Israel

30%

No relations at all

57%

No opinion
9%

Do you think the prospects for peace have improved, worsened, or stayed the same? (ADL, October, 2007)

 
2005
2007
Improved
39%
9%
Worsened
9%
20%
Stayed about the same
45%
59%