Published: July 26, 2005
Op-Ed Contributor
Polls Show Europeans, Americans Support Gaza Withdrawal
By Alan Gray, NewsBlaze 
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two groundbreaking polls commissioned by The Israel Project (TIP), one in the United States and the other in Europe, reveal a dramatic reduction in support for the Palestinians among Europeans and a continued strong show of support for Israel among Americans.
The European poll, conducted by Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg, illustrates that progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, coupled with profound changes in Europe, show signs of triggering a major, positive shift in European attitudes towards Israel. Among Europeans, Israel's upcoming withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank has reduced both antipathy toward Israel and sympathy for the Palestinians.
The polls are of particular significance because Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is headed to France Wed. to meet with French President Jacques Chirac. The two are expected to discuss Israel's historic disengagement initiative. It is Sharon's first visit to Paris since he took office in 2001.
The European study showed that just five percent of French opinion elites – defined as those with at least a college degree and are very or somewhat interested in foreign affairs-- believe France should take the Palestinians' side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Another 81 percent said they think their government should take neither side. This marks a profound shift from 2002, when similar polls showed that 35 percent of French opinion elite sided with the Palestinians and 48 percent took neither side.
In addition, when asked whether they support Israel or the Palestinians, the French elites' support for the Palestinians dropped by more than half during the past two-and-a-half years, from 47 percent in Dec. 2002 to 23 percent now. When asked the same question, 23 percent of French adults supported both sides, while 37 percent supported neither side.
In England, support for Palestinians is 14 percent, with 47 percent supporting neither side and nine percent expressing support for both sides.
Greenberg's polls included interviews with 938 people in the United Kingdom, among them 164 opinion elites. Another 949 people were polled in France; of those, 140 were opinion elites. The polls were conducted June 17-21.
"In Europe, we now know from our most recent research, there are new openings, based on Europe's own attempts to deal with Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism," Greenberg said in a joint statement he authored with Republican pollster Neil Newhouse. "There is a rising worry in Europe that their way of life is being threatened by economic and cultural changes."
The second poll profiled U.S. opinion elites, highlighting their strong support for Israel over the Palestinians by a margin of nearly four-to-one. In fact, support for Israel among Americans rose 15 percent in April alone.
Americans cited Israel's upcoming disengagement initiative as a primary reason for their support for Israel. Indeed, in a nearly unanimous show of approval, 89 percent of Americans said they support Israel's disengagement plan, which involves evacuating about 9,000 Jews from their homes in Gaza and the northern West Bank. Israel's "willingness to give back the Gaza Strip and their general concessions to obtain peace" with the Palestinians contributed to one participant's favorable view of Israel. While a majority of Americans support the creation of a Palestinian state, a majority also believe that an end to Palestinian terrorism must come first.
"These findings are very dramatic and encouraging," TIP President and Founder Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi said. "The world is beginning to recognize Israel's bold steps towards peace with the Palestinians, as Prime Minister Sharon moves forward with his courageous plan."
Many of the Americans polled cited Palestinian terrorism as another key reason for supporting Israel. As one participant stated, he viewed the Palestinians less favorably because of "their continuing reliance on terrorism. They don't seem able to compromise with Israel realistically. They say they'll do this and do that and then they blow something up. They say they'll negotiate and then blow up civilians and launch a terrorist attack."
"In the United States, communication about Israel has been profoundly shaped by 9-11, leading to a strong emphasis on Israel as America's strongest ally in the Middle East and on Israel as a democratic country that shares America's values," Newhouse and Greenberg said.
Americans also expressed confidence in Israeli political leaders because of their shared values. For example, 56 percent of Americans said Israeli leaders value life; 3 percent of Americans said Palestinian leaders value life. Also, a plurality of Americans agreed that Israeli leaders can be trusted and are willing to compromise for peace.
"This poll illustrates that Israel continues to enjoy widespread support in the United States, and its painstaking efforts for peace resonate with the American public," TIP Chairman Michael C. Gelman said.
The American poll was conducted jointly by Greenberg and Newhouse, co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies, a leading survey research firm. The poll included interviews of 500 American opinion elites from May 5-10, 2005.
Sample Poll Questions:
QUESTION:
Now, on a new topic, thinking about the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in the Middle East, please tell me whether, in general, you consider yourself to be a strong supporter of Israel, a supporter of Israel, a supporter of the Palestinians or a strong supporter of the Palestinians.
France UK
France Elite Elite UK
A strong supporter of Israel...................... 1 2 5 3
A supporter of Israel............................. 6 8 8 6
A supporter of the Palestinians................... 12 20 21 11
A strong supporter of the Palestinians............ 2 3 8 4
(Don't support either side)....................... 37 23 32 47
(Support both sides equally)...................... 23 25 16 9
(DK/refused)...................................... 20 19 10 21
Total Israel...................................... 7 10 13 9
Total Palestinians................................ 13 23 29 14
Israel - Palestinians............................. -6 -13 -16 -6
Question: In the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, do you think that [France/Britain] should take Israel's side, take the Palestinians' side, or not take either side?
France UK
France Elite Elite UK
Should take Israel's side......................... 1 - 4 4
Should take the Palestinians' side................ 5 5 10 4
Should not take either side....................... 76 81 75 69
(Don't know/refused).............................. 18 14 11 23
Israel's side - Palestinians' side................ -3 -5 -6 0
Question: Now let me read you some short statements. Please tell me which statement comes closer to your own view.
1st 1st 2nd 2nd Total Total 1st
Stmt Stmt Stmt Stmt Nei- DK/ 1st 2nd -
Much Smwt Smwt Much Both ther Ref Stmt Stmt 2nd
[474 France, 49 Elite]
9 (SPLIT A) Suicide bombers attacking Israel are terrorists.
Suicide bombers attacking Israel are legitimately fighting for the Palestinians' rights.
France.............. 23 34 1 7 5 13 17 57 8 49
France Elite........ 27 36 - 6 5 11 16 63 6 58
[469 France, 60 Elite 938 UK, 139 Elite]
Question: Imagine that Israel proceeds with this withdrawal policy and removes all its citizens from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Would this make you feel more comfortable or less comfortable toward Israel?
France UK
France Elite Elite UK
Much more comfortable............................. 7 13 25 12
Somewhat more comfortable......................... 39 51 37 26
Somewhat less comfortable......................... 10 8 6 9
Much less comfortable............................. 5 3 5 6
(Don't know/refused).............................. 39 25 27 48
Total More comfortable............................ 46 64 62 38
Total Less comfortable............................ 15 11 11 15
More comfortable - Less comfortable............... 31 53 51 23
The Israel Project is a new national non-profit organization devoted to educating the press and the public about Israel while promoting security, freedom and peace. It was started by three mothers who became concerned that negative images about Israel in the media were endangering the future of children who want to live in a world free of the sorts of anti-Semitism faced by generations before them. The Israel Project provides journalists, leaders and opinion-makers accurate information about Israel.
Board of Advisors: Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA), Senator Norm Coleman (MN), Senator Ben Nelson (NB), Senator Rick Santorum (PA), Senator Arlen Specter (PA), Senator Ron Wyden (OR), Congressman Bob Andrews (NJ), Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (NV), Congressman Tom Davis (VA), Congressman Eliot Engel (NY), Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ), Congressman Jon Porter (NV), Congressman Jim Saxton (NJ), Congressman Brad Sherman (CA), Congressman Joe Wilson (SC), Actor and Director Ron Silver
* The views of Opinion writers do not necessarily reflect the views of NewsBlaze
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