NEW YORK, NY – You see the pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian protests across America, especially in New York City and Washington, D.C..
A new poll delivered bad news for those hoping their protests turn into political action.
Most Americans side with Israel. Which, in the political world, means you won’t be seeing any major pro-Hamas or pro-Palestinian support from your local, state, or federal government anytime soon. It’s a world that lives and operates around polls.
Aside from fringe politicians like Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, there isn’t much pushback in government against Israel’s reaction to the October 6th terrorist attack that killed thousands of women, children, and babies.
A recent YouGov poll reveals a notable shift in American public opinion following the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. The survey, conducted from October 10-12, 2023, sampled 1,000 U.S. adult citizens, gauging their perspectives in the wake of a deadly Hamas attack and the ensuing war.
Key findings indicate a stronger American inclination towards Israel. A significant portion of the respondents expressed sympathy for Israel and perceived the country to be in a stronger position in the ongoing conflict. Regarding global leaders, opinions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden are mixed. There is notable skepticism about President Biden’s regional strategies and his capability to handle global crises.
In an interesting historical comparison, the poll revisited questions from over fifty years ago about the region. The results suggest that current American support for Israel is at least as strong as it was in the past, coupled with heightened doubts about the prospects of peace.
Another aspect of the survey involved sharing 10 anonymous statements about the conflict. The responses highlighted a predominant support for Israel’s right to self-defense, but less enthusiasm for drastic responses, redirection of aid from Ukraine to Israel, or criticism of Israel’s human rights record.
A subsequent YouGov survey conducted on October 13 with another sample of 1,000 U.S. adults indicated an increase in American sympathy towards the Israeli people. Conversely, attitudes towards the Palestinian people remained largely unchanged from the previous month. Additionally, more Americans favored an Israeli military order to evacuate northern Gaza than opposed it.
The October 10-12 poll also showed that Americans are more likely to side with Israel, though without overwhelming majorities. By a margin of 39% to 12%, respondents sympathized more with Israel than with Palestine. Moreover, 35% blamed the Palestinian side for the escalation of violence, compared to 13% who blamed Israel. Finally, a substantial 61% of Americans emphasized the importance of protecting Israel, significantly outnumbering the 36% who considered protecting Palestinian people important.
These results reflect a steady American consensus on the importance of U.S.-Israel cooperation, remaining consistent with sentiments recorded as far back as 1950.