American Public Opinion Polls: Attitudes Toward the Peace Process
(2003 - 2005)
In your opinion, does the Bush administration tilt toward Israel, the Palestinians, or is it generally balanced? (ADL, March 18-25, 2005)
Israel |
39%
|
Palestinians |
3%
|
Balanced |
41%
|
Who do you currently think is doing more to bring peace to the region: Israel or the Palestinians? (ADL, March 18-25, 2005)
Israel |
48%
|
Palestinians |
11%
|
Don't know |
41%
|
Do you believe the leaders of the moderate Arab countries like Jordan and Egypt are doing enough to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – or should they be doing more? (ADL, October, 2007)
2003
|
2005
|
2007
|
|
Doing enough |
10%
|
12%
|
10%
|
Should be doing more |
77%
|
74%
|
76%
|
In your opinion, how serious is new Palestinian leader Mahmaud Abbas about wanting to reach a peace agreement with the Israelis -- very serious, somewhat serious, not very serious, or not at all serious. (ADL)
2003
|
2005
|
|
Serious |
46%
|
64%
|
Not serious |
43%
|
17%
|
Which statement is closest to your own view …? (ADL, March 18-25, 2005)
As a world leader trying to bring peace to the Middle East, it is important for the U.S. to work with Arab nations like Egypt and Jordan, even if it means weakening our strong relationship with Israel. |
40%
|
Israel is America's most loyal ally in the Middle East. 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. |
36%
|
Peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will never take place without the continuing leadership and involvement of the U.S. government. | 31% |
It is up to the Palestinians and the Israelis to solve their own problems; any lasting peace agreement between them must be reached with minimal involvement from the U.S.. | 59% |
Do you believe that a two-state solution where both Israel and the Palestinians have their own separate land and governments will bring peace to the region or will there always be conflict? (The Israel Project, July 17-19, 2004)
Will bring peace |
26%
|
There will always be conflict |
72%
|
And, do you believe that the Palestinians’ ultimate goal is to live in peace side by side with Israel, or do you believe their ultimate goal is the elimination of Israel? (The Israel Project, July 17-19, 2004)
Live in peace |
29%
|
Elimination of Israel |
64%
|
Next, please tell me if you agree or disagree with each of the following statements... (The Israel Project, July 17-19, 2004)
Agree |
Disagree |
DK/Refuse |
|
The Palestinians have been indoctrinated by a generation of anti-Israel and anti-American propaganda; they are teaching their children to hate Americans and Jews and to become terrorists. |
72% |
20% |
8% |
There cannot be peace in the Middle East until the Palestinians stop teaching their children to become terrorists and to hate Israel and America. |
81%
|
14%
|
5%
|
Shares US principles of freedom and equality |
25%
|
36%
|
7%
|
Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with the Palestinians when the Palestinian leadership has said the ultimate goal is to eliminate Israel. |
64%
|
29%
|
6%
|
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?
Israel's side | Palestinian's side | Not take either | No Opinion | ||
February 2008 | Gallup |
18%
|
4%
|
74%
|
|
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.
Which comes closer to your view about the situation in the Middle East between the Israelis and the Palestinian Arabs — the United States should take an active role in attempting to find a diplomatic solution to the violence in the Middle East, (or) the United States whould encourage the two sides to find a solution on their own, but should not take an active role? (Gallup)
Gallup | Active role | Not an active role | No Opinion |
Aug. 2001 | 32% | 65% | 3% |
As far as you are concerned, how important a goal should the development of a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli situation in the Middle East be to the United States? Should it be a very important foreign policy goal of the United States, a somewhat important goal, not too important, or not an important goal at all?
Gallup | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | No Opinion |
June 2003* | 50% | 37% | 7% | 4% | 2% |
April 29- May 1, 2002 | 44% | 42% | 9% | 4% | 1% |
April 5-7, 2002 | 58% | 32% | 5% | 4% | 1% |
Mar 2002 | 58% | 30% | 5% | 6% | 1% |
Feb 2002 | 54% | 30% | 7% | 6% | 3% |
Feb 2001 | 43% | 40% | 10% | 5% | 2% |
July 2000 | 34% | 43% | 14% | 6% | 3% |
Jan 2000 | 32% | 46% | 12% | 6% | 4% |
July 1999 | 41% | 41% | 9% | 6% | 3% |
Sep 1993 | 41% | 36% | 11% | 8% | 4% |
Mar 1991 | 46% | 41% | 6% | 5% | 2% |
In 1974, the Palestine Liberation Organization adopted what was called a "phased plan" for the destruction of the State of Israel. According to this plan, the Palestinians would seek in phase I to obtain whatever land they could from Israel via negotiations, intimidation or coercion. In phase ii, that land would be used to finish the job against Israel. It's now been almost 30 years. Do you think the current objective of the Palestinian leadership with Israel or is it still to destroy Israel? (Center for Security Policy, June, 2003)
Destroy Israel | 49% |
Make peace with Israel | 28% |
Don't know | 23% |
The role of the United States.
A year ago, President Bush said, and I quote, "The United States will not support the establishment of a Palestinian state until its leaders engage in a sustained fight against terrorists and dismantle their infrastructure."
First, do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with this policy? (Center for Security Policy, June, 2003)
Agree | 73% |
Disagree | 18% |
Don't know/Refused | 9% |
Palestinian maps, school books, popular culture and leaders reflect a continued desire to destroy the state of Israel. Israel insists this must stop before there can be any hope for a true peace between Israel and the Arabs. Is that a fair or unfair demand? (Center for Security Policy, June, 2003)
Fair | 73% |
Unfair | 16% |
Don't know/Refused | 11% |
Now let's talk about the demands being made by both sides and whether or not they are fair or unfair...? (Center for Security Policy, June, 2003)
Fair | Unfair | |
Stop desire destroy Israel | 73% | 16% |
Remain de-militarized | 35% | 47% |
Israel admit refugees | 25% | 45% |
Who do you think is more likely to guarantee free access to the important holy land religious sites--Israel or the Palestinians? (Center for Security Policy, June, 2003)
Israel | 61% |
Palestinians | 6% |
Both/Neither | 19% |
Don't know/Refused | 14% |
Who do you think is more likely to safeguard the important holy land religious sites--Israel or the Palestinians? (Center for Security Policy, June, 2003)
Israel | 55% |
Palestinians | 6% |
Both/Neither | 24% |
Don't know/Refused | 16% |
Last June, President Bush called for a new Palestinian leadership "Untainted by terror." The new Palestinian prime minister has been Yasser Arafat's deputy for most of the past forty years. Do you think he can be considered a "new leader" for the Palestinians, or is he not really represent new leadership? (Center for Security Policy, June, 2003)
New leader | 21% |
Not new leadership | 61% |
Don't know/Refused | 18% |
]Is the] Israeli decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza strip without formal peace agreemen a bold step toward peace or not? (ADL, March 18-25, 2005)
A bold step toward peace |
67%
|
Not significant |
15%
|
As you may know, Israel has been removing Jewish settlers from land mainly in the Gaza Strip and a few in the West Bank to give the land to the Palestinians. Was this the right or wrong thing to do? (Harris, September 23, 2005)
Right thing to do |
|
Wrong thing to do |
|
Not sure |
|
Do you think that the departure of a large number of settlers from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank will increase or decrease the chances of long-term peace? (Harris, September 23, 2005)
Increase chances |
36% |
Decrease chances |
24% |
Not sure |
40% |
Do you think that Israel should give up more land in the West Bank to Palestinians in exchange for lasting peace? (Harris, September 23, 2005)
Yes |
28% |
No |
36% |
Not sure |
35% |
How would you rate the job each of the following people is doing to work for a reasonable solution to the future relations between Israel and the Palestinians? (Harris, September 23, 2005)
Excellent |
Pretty Good |
Only Fair |
Poor |
Positive – NET (Excellent/Pretty Good) |
Negative – NET (Only Fair/Poor) |
|||||||
Mar |
Sept |
Mar |
Sept |
Mar |
Sept |
Mar |
Sept |
Mar |
Sept |
Mar |
Sept |
|
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas |
3 |
* |
29 |
20 |
53 |
57 |
15 |
22 |
32 |
21 |
68 |
79 |
George W. Bush |
10 |
5 |
26 |
25 |
36 |
35 |
27 |
35 |
37 |
30 |
63 |
70 |
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon |
4 |
4 |
32 |
31 |
48 |
49 |
16 |
16 |
36 |
35 |
64 |
65 |
* Less than 0.5%.
How willing do you think the Israelis/Palestinians are to compromise in order to secure a lasting peace in the region? (Harris, September 23, 2005)
Israelis |
Palestinians |
|||
Mar |
Sept |
Mar |
Sept |
|
Very willing |
5% |
6% |
3% |
2% |
Somewhat willing |
40% |
42% |
36% |
30% |
Somewhat unwilling |
28% |
28% |
30% |
35% |
Very unwilling |
14% |
13% |
16% |
22% |
Not sure |
13% |
9% |
15% |
11% |