Americans remain overwhelmingly sympathetic to Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a new Gallup poll shows, with those over 50 and Republicans the most supportive.
Some 62 per cent of Americans surveyed said they are more sympathetic to the Israelis, while 15 per cent favoured the Palestinians. Another 23 per cent said they are sympathetic to neither, both or no opinion.
The results of the poll were released Monday.
Those over age 50 were the most sympathetic to Israel, at 72 per cent, according to the poll. Some 54 per cent of Americans aged 18-29 and 30-49 said their sympathies lie with Israel.
In addition, 79 per cent of Republicans, 53 per cent of Democrats and 56 per cent of Independents said they were sympathetic to Israel.
While Americans have been consistent in showing more support to Israel over the last 15 years, the numbers have held steady for the past decade.
The survey also asked respondents whether they favour or oppose “the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.” Some 43 per cent of respondents said they favour such a state, with 37 opposing it, and 19 per cent having no opinion. The numbers have remained similar for the past four years.
Some 58 per cent of Democrats back the establishment of a Palestinian state, compared with 26 per cent of Republicans, the poll found.
Results of the poll are based on telephone interviews Feb. 3-7 of 1,021 American adults living in all 50 states and Washington D.C., with some 60 per cent cellphone respondents and 40 per cent landline respondents. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 per cent.
