Although an increasing number of Americans oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state, a new Gallup Poll shows the American public is divided over the Palestinian demand for a sovereign state of their own. Currently, 45% of Americans say they support the creation of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza and 42% are opposed to it, which is a 5% increase compared to last year According to the Gallup Poll, a large portion of the American public supports and views Israel favorably. Of the Americans asked, 71% said they support Israel, despite 27% who voiced an opposing view. This was the fourth consecutive year in which support for Israel remained above the 70% mark. The low point in American public support for Israel came 28 years ago, in 1989, when only 49% of people polled said they supported Israel. The high point, surprisingly, was just two years later, in 1991, when support reached the 79% mark. When it comes to political affiliation, it appears support for Israel is greatest among Republicans, 81% of whom say they support the Jewish state. Among Democrats, 61% said they support Israel. Support for establishing a Palestinian state is also divided along party lines. As of today, 61% of Democrats, 50% of independents and 25% of Republicans express support for the idea. One interesting trend revealed in the poll is that younger Americans support Israel less than older Americans. Of those asked, 63% of 18-29-year-olds said they support Israel, while 77% of those above 65 voiced support. Meanwhile, compared to a year ago, Americans view Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considerably more positively. Among Republicans, 73% said they viewed him favorably, while only 32% of Democrats said the same. Another clear trend, similar to recent years, is that on the matter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict far more Americans (62%) said their sympathies were with Israel, while only 19% said they sympathize with the Palestinians. All three groups, Republicans (82%), independents (57%) and Democrats (47%), sympathize more with Israel than with the Palestinians.
On the other hand, 6% of Republicans, 23% of independents and 29% of Democrats expressed greater sympathies for the Palestinians.
