Results of a fresh Harris Poll on the Middle East situation, taken in September and announced today, reported that 42 percent of the American respondents favored Israel’s retention of control of all of Jerusalem. Against full Israeli control of the Holy City and in favor of internationalization of Jerusalem were 33 percent of the respondents, while 24 percent were listed as “not sure.”
The Harris polls are conducted by Louis Harris, one of the foremost public opinion surveyors in the country. The figures showed that, last June, immediately after Israel took control over all of Jerusalem, only 10 percent of Americans favored Israeli control of the city, 60 percent voted for internationalization, and 20 percent were not certain on that issue.
By a margin of 42 to 36 percent, Americans favor the idea of United States supply of arms to Israel as long as the Russians seem to be rearming the Arab states. However, the figures showed also that 59 percent of Americans flatly oppose armed intervention by the United States in case another Arab-Israeli war breaks out. On the same issue, 42 percent favored U.S. intervention.
In reply to another question, as to whether the respondents believed a settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict was in the offing, 19 percent thought there would be a peace settlement; 50 percent thought that war would break out again soon; while 31 percent were not certain.
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