More than half of Americans support Israel over the Palestinians, a new Gallup poll finds. About one-quarter said their sympathies are with Palestinians, and the rest said both, neither or that they are unsure.
“A majority of Americans continue to be in Israel’s corner,” Gallup’s Lydia Saad wrote in an online analysis, adding that “the overall strength of Israel’s sympathy advantage has declined in recent years as Democrats have become more divided on the question.”
The poll found that support for Israelis has declined slightly among Americans since 2018, when it was 64 percent. Likewise, support for Palestinians has risen during that time, from 15 percent in 2016 to 19 percent in 2018. Although more than three-quarters of Republicans (77 percent) side with Israelis, barely half of Independents (54 percent) and only 40 percent of Democrats do. There is a 64 percent difference among Republicans between support for the Israelis and Palestinians (77 to 13 percent). Among Democrats, it’s only 2 percentage points (40 to 38 percent).
“The Democratic Party itself is divided along ideological lines, with liberal Democrats siding with the Palestinians and moderate or conservative Democrats siding with the Israelis,” Saad wrote. “But among both ideological subgroups, Democrats’ increased sympathy for the Palestinians appears to stem from an assessment of the political situation, not from growing animosity toward Israel per se.”
Palestinian organizations, along with Iran and private groups, spend hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars each year on social media campaigns and activist activities to weaken Israel’s support among Americans. It has culminated in a worldwide campaign called BDS – Boycott, Divest and Sanction. The movement is attempting to isolate Israel from the western world and destroy its economy.
The survey also included a question about the Palestinian Authority.
“Relatively few adults in any of the three major party groups view the Palestinian Authority favorably,” Saad wrote. “However, its rating has improved among Democrats and independents, about doubling since 2013 to 38 percent and 28 percent, respectively. It has been steadier at a much lower level among Republicans, among whom 14 percent now view the Palestinian Authority favorably.”
The Palestinian Authority is the governing arm of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, or PLO. The group was responsible for the hijackings of airliners in the 1970s and 80s as well as the Munich terrorist attack in 1972. That attack saw Palestinians storm the Olympic athlete housing complex, taking the Israeli wrestling team and their coaches hostage. Most of the athletes and coaches were murdered in the attack.
Today, the Palestinian Authority pays a lifetime income to the families of terrorists who kill Israeli citizens or military personnel.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
