American Attitudes Toward the Intifada

Heard of the Intifada:

	Yes, heard	No, haven't heard
ADL 9/89	24	73
M&K	11	88

How do you feel about recent Israeli actions in the Middle East? At the present time, would you say you are a strong supporter of these actions, a moderate supporter of these actions, a moderate critic of these actions, or a strong critic of these actions?

	October 1982	July 1983	August 1985	February 1988	February 1989
Total Critic	54%	46%	36%	43%	41%
Total Supporter	25%	24%	31%	27%	29%
DK	21%	30%	33%	30%	30%

Since 1988 there have been Palestinian uprisings in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. These uprisings, the intifada, have resulted in frequent clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians. Is this something you have heard or read about? Have you heard a lot about it, a little about it, or not very much about it? (M&K, 2/91)

No, have not heard	24%
Yes, heard a lot	32%
Yes, heard a little	33%
Yes, not heard very much	10%
Not sure	1%

Some people feel Israel has been too harsh in dealing with the Palestinian uprising. Others feel Israel has used only enough force to prevent further uprisings. Which comes closest to your own point of view--that Israel's handling of the uprising has been too harsh, too lenient, or about right? (M&K, 2/91)

Too harsh	33%
Too lenient	7%
About right	50%
Not sure	10%

Israel's Handling of the Uprising:

	Too Lenient	About Right	Too Harsh
CBS/NYT 6/90	7	27	35
Roper 5/90	8	27	29
ADL 9/89	20	39	33
Roper 4/89	8	28	30
Penn & Schoen/ADL 4/29-5/1/88	*11	*26	32
Roper/AJC 4/16-29/88	11	26	28
Gallup 2/3-4/88	17	32	43
Penn & Schoen/ADL 1/20-24/88	*12	*29	36

*Not harsh enough / approripate

Responsibility for the uprising: (ADL, 1988)

	Jan.	May
Israel is most responsible	16	14
Arabs are most responsible	16	11
PLO is most responsible	43	38
DK	26	38
Palestinians have legitimate grievances	33	28
Palestinians are protesting for...political reasons	39	33
DK	19	30

Los Angeles Times (1988)

		April

Palestinians are acting in civil disobedience	34
Palestinians are in state of war with Israel	42