Israelis and Palestinians differ widely in their outlook for a peaceful resolution to their conflict and in their views about the United States, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Both peoples want U.S. President Barack Obama to play a more significant role in resolving the stalemate. According to the survey, Israelis mostly believe a way can be found for an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully beside Israel. Palestinians overwhelmingly think this is impossible, while most said that armed struggle is the best way to achieve statehood. Views toward the U.S. also vary considerably between Israelis and Palestinians, with Israelis far more likely to rate the U.S. favorably and to say its Middle East policies are fair. Obama remains largely unpopular in the Palestinian territories, but his ratings have improved considerably in Israel. The U.S. president enjoys the confidence of 61 percent of Israelis, up 12 percentage points from 2011. Palestinians, however, remain negative, with just 15% expressing confidence in Obama to do the right thing in world affairs, and 82% saying they have little or no confidence in him. These were among the new findings of the survey, which polled 14,997 people in 12 countries and the Palestinian territories from March 3 to April 12, 2013. Survey countries include Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories, as well as the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia -- and Germany, which has played an active role in key Middle East issues. Surveys in Israel and the Palestinian territories were conducted after Obamas trip to the region. Perceptions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict differ considerably across the countries surveyed. In the U.S., about half (53%) say they sympathize more with Israel, while just 14% sympathize more with the Palestinians. This is virtually unchanged from the last time the Pew Global Attitudes Project asked this question in 2007. Views are more mixed in France, Germany and Russia. For example, 40% of French respondents sympathize more with Israel, while 44% say their sympathies lie with the Palestinians. Similarly, in Germany and Russia, about as many side with Israel as side with the Palestinians, but substantial numbers in these countries do not sympathize with either side in this conflict (31% and 42%, respectively). One-in-five respondents in Britain also do not sympathize with either side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but those who choose a side tend to sympathize with the Palestinians. About a third (35%) of the British people sympathizes with the Palestinians, while 19% side with Israel. Half of Israelis think this is possible, while 38% say it is not and 9% say it depends. Palestinians are far less optimistic; 61% do not believe a way can be found for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully, while 14% say this is possible and 22% say it depends. Israeli Arabs are considerably more likely than Jews to say it is possible for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully; 75% of Arabs in Israel say this is the case, compared with 46% of Israeli Jews. Among Jews in Israel, a majority of those who describe themselves as secular believe a peaceful two-state solution is a possibility, while just 32% of those who describe themselves as traditional, religious or ultra-Orthodox share this view. About four-in-ten Israelis (42%) believe the continued building of Jewish settlements in the West Bank hurts their nations security; 27% say the expansion of settlements helps Israels security, and 23% say it does not make a difference. Elsewhere, at least half in France (71%), Germany (59%), Britain (52%) and the U.S. (50%) are optimistic that a way can be found for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully with each other. In Lebanon and Tunisia, majorities say there is not a way for a peaceful two-state solution to be achieved (80% and 57%, respectively), and about half (47%) in Turkey and 40% in Egypt are also skeptical. Opinions are somewhat more divided in Jordan, Russia and China, although pluralities in Russia and China say there is a way for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully. Israels image, not unexpectedly, is overwhelmingly negative in the region: 86% or more in Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey have an unfavorable view. Israel also has few friends in France, Germany and China, where majorities hold negative views toward it. The U.S. is the only country surveyed where a majority (57%) give Israel a favorable rating.
