Sympathize More With Palestinians
For decades, the public has sympathized with Israel over the Palestinians and that remains the case today. Overall, five times more Americans sympathize with Israel than the Palestinians. In a survey conducted after last month’s conflict between Israel and Hamas forces in Gaza, 50% said they sympathize more with Israel, compared with just 10% who said they sympathize more with the Palestinians. Almost a quarter (23%) did not offer an opinion while 13% volunteered that they sympathize with neither side, and 4% said both. In May, 48% sided with Israel compared to 11% who backed the Palestinians.
There continue to be stark partisan differences in Middle East sympathies. Conservative Republicans maintain strong support for Israel, with fully 75% saying they sympathize with Israel compared with just 2% who sympathize with the Palestinians. By contrast, liberal Democrats are much more divided: 33% sympathize more with Israel, 22% with the Palestinians. Independents sympathize more with Israel by a 47% to 13% margin.
Sympathize More With  | Israel  | Palestinians  | 50  | 5  | Impric  | 1978  | 2012  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER Dec, 5-9 2012, 1978-1990 data  | from Chicago Council on Foreign Relations 