6 in 10 Americans continue to sympathize more with Israelis than Palestinians: Poll

US President Barack Obama(R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, November 9, 2015. (AFP photo)

Americans' views about the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis remained steady over the past year, with about 6 in 10 saying their sympathies lie more with the Israelis, according to a new poll.

The Gallup survey, released February 29, found that 62 percent of Americans sympathize more with the Zionist regime and 15 percent favor the Palestinians.

The poll also shows that nearly 25 percent continue to be neutral, including 9 percent who sympathize with neither side, 3 percent who sympathize with both and 11 percent expressing no opinion.

The Gallup poll found a wide gap among Republicans and Democrats in their support for the Israelis and Palestinians, with 79 percent of Republicans favoring Israel, 7 percent supporting the Palestinians and 2 percent favoring both.

On the Democratic side, 53 percent favor Israel, 23 percent support the Palestinians and 3 percent both.

A key reason for Americans' sympathy for Israel is the spread of anti-Palestinian propaganda by pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC.

Ironically, more Americans favor than oppose, 44 percent to 37 percent, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, Galllup found.    

The US government is pressured to serve Israel’s interests due to the influence of the powerful Zionist lobby in the United States. The pro-Israel pressure groups actively work to steer US foreign policy in favor of Israel.

The US currently provides about $3 billion in annual military aid to Israel. The money is separate from the nearly $500 million in annual US funding for Israel’s missile system programs in recent years.


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