American sympathies lay more with Israelis than with Palestinians, a new poll found.
Sixty-five percent of Americans consider Israel a reliable U.S. ally and believe Israel is serious about reaching a peace deal, according to a Anti-Defamation League survey released Monday. Fifty-eight percent also generally view Israel favorably.
Only 16 percent said their sympathies lay with the Palestinians, compared to 45 percent for Israel. Forty-seven percent blamed the Palestinians for deteriorating conditions for peace, and 47 percent attributed Palestinian difficulties to their own leadership.
“These findings are reassuring, not only because of continuing strong support for Israel, but because Americans understand that without a major Palestinian effort to deal with terrorism, there can be no viable Palestinian state,” Abraham Foxman, the ADL’s national director, said in a statement. “At a moment when the parties are preparing for a meeting in Annapolis, Md., this message on how to reach peace is important and should be heeded.”
The survey, conducted by the Boston-based Marttila Communications Group, polled 2,000 Americans nationwide by telephone. The margin of error is 2.19 percent.
