American Public Opinion Polls:
Attitudes Toward the Peace Process

(2003 - 2005)

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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	41%
Wrong thing to do	24%
Not sure	36%

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

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
* 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%

American Public Opinion Polls: Attitudes Toward the Peace Process

(2003 - 2005)

Return to American Public Opinion Polls: Table of Contents

American Public Opinion Polls:
Attitudes Toward the Peace Process