Sympathy Grows For Palestinians But Majority Still Sympathize More With Israelis, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Generational Divide Widens On View Of Israel
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As the fighting in Gaza intensifies more than a month after Hamas attacked Israel, sparking the Israel - Hamas war, some voters are changing their view when it comes to who they sympathize more with: the Israelis or the Palestinians, led by young voters and Democrats, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of registered voters released today. Overall, 54 percent say their sympathies lie more with the Israelis, while 24 percent say their sympathies lie more with the Palestinians. This compares to Quinnipiac University's October 17 poll, when 61 percent said the Israelis and 13 percent said the Palestinians.
Among voters 18 - 34 years old, a majority (52 percent) say their sympathies lie more with the Palestinians, while 29 percent say the Israelis. This is a sharp reversal from October, when 41 percent said the Israelis and 26 percent said the Palestinians.
Among Democrats, a plurality (41 percent) say their sympathies lie more with the Palestinians, while 34 percent say their sympathies lie more with the Israelis. In October, nearly half of Democrats (48 percent) said the Israelis and 22 percent said the Palestinians.
An overwhelming majority of voters (72 percent) say, regardless of their overall feelings toward the Israelis and the Palestinians, Hamas is more responsible for the outbreak of violence in the Middle East, while 14 percent say Israel is more responsible.
ISRAEL'S RESPONSE TO OCTOBER 7 ATTACK
Forty-six percent of voters approve of the way Israel is responding to the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack, while 40 percent disapprove, and 14 percent did not offer an opinion. In Quinnipiac University's November 2 poll, 50 percent approved, 35 percent disapproved, and 15 percent did not offer an opinion.
There are stark divides by party identification and age.
Republicans (73 - 18 percent) approve of Israel's response, while Democrats (60 - 27 percent) disapprove. Independents are divided, with 44 percent disapproving and 40 percent approving.
There has been a big shift among voters 18 to 34 years old since the November 2 poll. The responses broken down by age are:
- 18 to 34 year olds: 20 percent approve, while 66 percent disapprove in today's poll compared to November 2 when 32 percent approved and 52 percent disapproved.
- 35 to 49 year olds: 43 percent approve, while 41 percent disapprove in today's poll compared to November 2 when 48 percent approved and 38 percent disapproved.
- 50 to 64 year olds: 58 percent approve, while 29 percent disapprove in today's poll compared to November 2 when 58 percent approved and 26 percent disapproved.
- 65 years and over: 57 percent approve, while 32 percent disapprove in today's poll compared to November 2 when 59 percent approved and 27 percent disapproved.
"While Americans overwhelmingly believe that Hamas lit the fuse that set the region on fire, support for Israel's devastating counterattack deteriorates with younger voters," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
UNITED STATES & ISRAEL
An overwhelming majority of voters (73 percent) think supporting Israel is in the national interest of the United States, while 19 percent think it is not in the national interest of the United States. This is largely unchanged from Quinnipiac University's October 17 poll.
A majority of voters (54 percent) support the United States sending more military aid to Israel for their efforts in the war with Hamas, while 39 percent oppose it. Like other questions, there are big gaps by age with the youngest voters 18 - 34 years old (65 - 31 percent) opposing it and the oldest voters 65 years of age and over (65 - 25 percent) supporting it.
When it comes to the relationship between the United States and Israel, nearly half of voters (48 percent) think the U.S. support of Israel is about right, while 27 percent think the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, and 19 percent think the U.S. is not supportive enough of Israel.
TERRORISM CONCERN
More than 7 in 10 voters (73 percent) are either very concerned (37 percent) or somewhat concerned (36 percent) that the war between Israel and Hamas could lead to terrorist attacks inside the United States, while 25 percent are either not so concerned (15 percent) or not concerned at all (10 percent).
"Could America's unwavering alliance with Israel in a distant war bring terrorist blowback to our shores? The concern level is running high," added Malloy.
UKRAINE
Roughly two-thirds of voters (65 percent) think that supporting Ukraine is in the national interest of the United States, while 30 percent think it is not in the national interest of the United States.
Nearly 4 in 10 voters (38 percent) think the U.S. is doing about the right amount to help Ukraine, 37 percent think the U.S. is doing too much, and 20 percent think the U.S. is doing too little to help Ukraine.
There are partisan divides.
Among Republicans, 24 percent think the U.S. is doing about the right amount to help Ukraine, 60 percent think the U.S. is doing too much, and 11 percent think the U.S. is doing too little to help Ukraine.
Among Democrats, 56 percent think the U.S. is doing about the right amount to help Ukraine, 10 percent think the U.S. is doing too much, and 29 percent think the U.S. is doing too little to help Ukraine.
Among independents, 36 percent think the U.S. is doing about the right amount to help Ukraine, 39 percent think the U.S. is doing too much, and 17 percent think the U.S. is doing too little to help Ukraine.
A majority of voters (54 percent) support the United States sending more military aid to Ukraine for their efforts in the war with Russia, while 41 percent oppose it.
There are partisan divides.
Democrats (77 - 20 percent) and independents (50 - 43 percent) support sending more military aid to Ukraine, while Republicans (59 - 37 percent) oppose it.
CHINA POSES BIGGEST THREAT
When given a list of four countries to choose from and asked which country poses the biggest threat to the United States, a majority of voters say China (58 percent), followed by Russia (22 percent), Iran (9 percent), and North Korea (6 percent).
There are partisan divides.
Among Republicans, the country they think poses the biggest threat is China (75 percent), followed by Iran (10 percent), Russia (10 percent), and North Korea (2 percent).
Among Democrats, the countries they think pose the biggest threat are China (41 percent) and Russia (40 percent), followed by North Korea (9 percent) and Iran (7 percent).
Among independents, the country they think poses the biggest threat is China (58 percent), followed by Russia (17 percent), Iran (11 percent), and North Korea (6 percent).
1,574 self-identified registered voters nationwide were surveyed from November 9th - 13th with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
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Poll Questions
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Question 21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Israel is responding to the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 46% 73% 27% 40% 53% 40% 47% 55% Disapprove 40 18 60 44 37 43 43 30 DK/NA 14 8 13 16 10 17 11 14 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 20% 43% 58% 57% 59% 47% 52% 26% 34% Disapprove 66 41 29 32 32 37 35 53 50 DK/NA 14 16 13 11 9 17 13 21 16 -
Question 24. Which country do you think poses the biggest threat to the United States: China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No China 58% 75% 41% 58% 66% 50% 57% 63% Russia 22 10 40 17 17 27 25 21 North Korea 6 2 9 6 3 8 4 3 Iran 9 10 7 11 8 10 10 9 OTHER(VOL) 2 1 2 3 3 1 1 2 DK/NA 3 2 2 6 3 4 2 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp China 55% 56% 62% 58% 67% 55% 61% 43% 58% Russia 23 24 22 22 19 25 22 31 18 North Korea 7 9 5 4 2 4 3 14 12 Iran 8 8 7 12 7 11 9 6 7 OTHER(VOL) 2 3 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 DK/NA 5 1 3 2 2 4 3 3 3 -
Question 31. Do you think the United States is doing too much, too little, or about the right amount to help Ukraine?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Too much 37% 60% 10% 39% 38% 36% 27% 44% Too little 20 11 29 17 23 16 23 18 About right 38 24 56 36 35 40 46 33 DK/NA 6 5 5 8 4 8 4 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Too much 38% 41% 40% 26% 39% 37% 38% 28% 30% Too little 23 18 18 21 23 18 20 19 17 About right 31 36 36 49 35 40 38 37 47 DK/NA 8 5 7 4 3 5 4 17 6 -
Question 32. Which comes closer to your line of thinking: supporting Ukraine is in the national interest of the United States or supporting Ukraine is not in the national interest of the United States?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No In U.S. interest 65% 51% 86% 65% 64% 67% 79% 61% Not in U.S. interest 30 46 10 29 31 28 18 35 DK/NA 5 3 4 5 5 5 2 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp In U.S. interest 61% 58% 65% 81% 68% 68% 68% 60% 67% Not in U.S. interest 33 37 32 15 29 28 29 29 31 DK/NA 6 5 3 4 3 4 4 10 2 -
Question 33. From what you know about the situation in the Middle East, do your sympathies lie more with the Israelis or more with the Palestinians?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Israelis 54% 80% 34% 48% 58% 50% 57% 66% Palestinians 24 7 41 22 21 26 23 14 DK/NA 22 12 25 30 21 24 20 20 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Israelis 29% 48% 67% 65% 66% 59% 62% 30% 42% Palestinians 52 23 13 15 15 20 18 34 36 DK/NA 19 29 20 21 19 21 20 35 23 -
Question 34. Thinking about the relationship between the United States and Israel, do you think the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, not supportive enough of Israel, or is the U.S. support of Israel about right?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Too supportive 27% 11% 39% 33% 29% 26% 27% 20% Not enough 19 38 4 14 20 18 15 25 About right 48 48 53 46 47 48 54 50 DK/NA 6 4 5 7 4 8 4 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Too supportive 50% 31% 21% 12% 23% 22% 23% 29% 43% Not enough 13 17 21 21 20 22 21 11 13 About right 31 45 53 61 54 50 52 48 42 DK/NA 5 7 5 7 3 6 5 12 3 -
Question 35. Regardless of your overall feelings toward the Israelis and the Palestinians, who do you think is more responsible for the outbreak of violence in the Middle East: Israel or Hamas?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Israel 14% 5% 20% 14% 12% 15% 11% 7% Hamas 72 89 69 62 74 70 80 82 BOTH EQUALLY(VOL) 5 4 5 6 5 4 5 4 DK/NA 9 3 6 18 8 11 4 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Israel 36% 13% 6% 5% 7% 10% 9% 19% 22% Hamas 48 69 81 87 84 79 81 55 57 BOTH EQUALLY(VOL) 5 7 3 2 4 4 4 8 6 DK/NA 11 11 10 5 5 6 6 19 15 -
Question 36. Which comes closer to your line of thinking: supporting Israel is in the national interest of the United States or supporting Israel is not in the national interest of the United States?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No In U.S. interest 73% 83% 71% 70% 75% 71% 80% 79% Not in U.S. interest 19 12 21 22 19 19 13 16 DK/NA 7 5 8 8 5 9 7 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp In U.S. interest 47% 71% 81% 89% 82% 78% 80% 64% 64% Not in U.S. interest 45 20 12 6 16 15 15 22 32 DK/NA 8 9 6 5 3 8 5 14 3 -
Question 37. Do you support or oppose the United States sending more military aid to Israel for their efforts in the war with Hamas?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 54% 71% 45% 47% 57% 52% 53% 62% Oppose 39 25 48 45 39 40 41 31 DK/NA 7 3 7 8 4 9 6 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 31% 48% 64% 65% 62% 56% 59% 46% 44% Oppose 65 45 30 25 35 35 35 45 51 DK/NA 4 7 6 10 4 8 6 9 4 -
Question 38. Do you support or oppose the United States sending more military aid to Ukraine for their efforts in the war with Russia?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 54% 37% 77% 50% 55% 53% 65% 50% Oppose 41 59 20 43 42 40 31 45 DK/NA 5 4 3 6 3 7 4 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 48% 55% 51% 64% 56% 54% 55% 50% 59% Oppose 46 43 45 31 42 38 40 43 40 DK/NA 6 3 5 5 2 7 5 6 1 -
Question 39. How concerned are you that the war between Israel and Hamas could lead to terrorist attacks inside the United States; very concerned, somewhat concerned, not so concerned, or not concerned at all?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very concerned 37% 51% 25% 37% 35% 40% 33% 43% Smwht concerned 36 35 40 35 35 37 39 36 Not so concerned 15 7 23 17 15 15 17 12 Not concerned at all 10 7 11 9 14 6 9 8 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very concerned 16% 33% 43% 51% 35% 43% 39% 30% 31% Smwht concerned 34 39 37 35 37 37 37 37 36 Not so concerned 32 14 10 10 15 13 14 16 20 Not concerned at all 16 13 8 3 12 6 9 15 12 DK/NA 3 - 2 1 1 1 1 2 1