HOUSTON,TEXAS , March 7, 2010 (WAFA)- At a time when propaganda campaigns to boycott Israel , divestment and sanctions against Israel, reliable polling data suggests that nearly two-thirds of Americans identify as pro-Israel , Jewish Herald Voice said on its online site.
A new survey by Gallup, published on Feb. 24, found that 63 percent of Americans say their sympathies in the Middle East situation lie more with Israelis than with Palestinians. Pro-Palestinian support, measured at 15 percent, is down slightly from recent years. Americans, who favor both sides, favor neither side or have no opinion, combined for 22 percent.
The findings were included in Gallup’s annual World Affairs survey. Israel ranked fifth among countries viewed most favorably by Americans. The Jewish state finished behind Canada, Britain, Germany and Japan.
The survey mentioned with more than six in 10 Americans identifying as pro-Israel, current public U.S. support for the Jewish state is at a near-record high, Gallup indicated. The last time American pro-Israel attitudes reached these peaks, measured by Gallup survey, was during the 1991 Gulf War.
According to Gallup, Republican support for Israel has increased from 77 percent to 85 percent over the past five years; a similar increase was found among independents. For Democrats, numbers have remained steady. Gallup found that since 2001, Republicans have shown a 25-point increase in pro-Israel attitudes, while independents have shown an 18-point increase in pro-Israel attitudes.
Polls also found that public attitudes toward prospects for Arab-Israeli peace are low. Some 30 percent of Americans believe “there will come a time” when “Israel and the Arab nations will be able to settle their differences and live in peace.” Public optimism on Mideast peace historically has increased during U.S.-brokered negotiations, such as the Oslo Accords. The number of independents who are optimistic about peace prospects significantly has dropped since U.S. President Barack Obama took office more than one year ago, the survey indicated.
Gallup conducted nationwide phone interviews with a random sample of 1,025 adults, aged 18 and older, Feb. 1 to 3, 2010. Results were given with a maximum margin of sampling error of four percentage points.
