Support for Israel in conflict with Palestinians lowest years: Gallup

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American support for Israelis in the conflict with Palestinians dropped to 59 percent, the lowest figure in a decade, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The Gallup poll found that 59 percent of Americans said they are more sympathetic to Israel in the longtime conflict, compared to 21 percent who said their sympathies are more with Palestinians. Support for Israel dropped 5 percentage points from last year, the poll found, and hit its lowest mark since 2009.

Along party lines, support for Israel among Democratic respondents dropped by 6 percentage points compared to last year’s poll, while support among those who identified as Republican dropped by 13 percentage points, the poll found. 

{mosads}Despite a dip in sympathies toward Israel, the poll found that most Americans still view Israel favorably. The Gallup poll showed 69 percent of respondents hold a favorable view of Israel, compared to 21 percent who hold a positive view of the Palestinian Authority.

The poll surveyed 1,016 adults from Feb. 1 to 10 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. 

The survey was conducted prior to the latest comments from Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who said last week that pro-Israel advocates are pushing “allegiance to a foreign country.”

The comments have drawn bipartisan backlash, with numerous members of both parties urging her to apologize or reconsider her language. Omar has stood by her right to question the U.S.-Israel relationship, and some progressive lawmakers have come to her defense.

House Democratic leaders are delaying a vote on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism that had been slated to take place on Wednesday in the aftermath of Omar’s comments.

Omar previously caused a furor on Capitol Hill last month for suggesting U.S. lawmakers supported Israel because of money from a pro-Israel lobbying group. She later apologized for those comments.

Tags Gallup Gallup poll Ilhan Omar Israel Middle East Palestine U.S. foreign policy

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