American Support for Israel

When Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama met in the White House today, exchanged warm greetings and expressed their affirmation of the "unshakable" bond between Israel and the U.S., it stood in stark contrast to their last meeting in March.

At that meeting, Obama banned the press from covering their meeting and Netanyahu had to leave by the side door.

Some interpret today's warm White House welcome as a politically motivated meeting, with November elections just months away. Republicans have seized on the poor relationship between Israel and the U.S. as a powerful campaign issue.

This poll released today by The Israel Project demonstrates just how deep that support is. Here's an excerpt:

The poll shows that almost two-thirds of U.S. voters believe relations with Israel are important to the U.S. national interest. While the majority (53 percent) of Americans agree that Israel’s government, led by Netanyahu, is committed to reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinians, only a third (32 percent) believe the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, share the same commitment to peace.

Americans agree (63 percent to 19 percent) across party lines that the only way to bring lasting peace for Israel and the Palestinians is to be partners in the process without the United States setting out terms of a settlement.

Only 13 percent of Republicans and 31 percent of Democrats believe it will be necessary for President Obama to outline a specific solution and push Israelis and Palestinians to accept it.

“Americans continue to stand with Israel,” said Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies.

By a more than 2-1 ratio, Americans said Israel has the right to impose a blockade on Gaza. More than two-thirds agree that Israel has a right to inspect cargo coming into Gaza. Additionally, 58 percent of Americans believe that the so-called activists aboard a Turkish flotilla are to blame when Israel intercepted a ship carrying supplies to Gaza and encountered armed and violent participants, resulting in nine deaths.

A strong majority – 58 percent of Americans – said they believe the United States “should” take Israel’s side in the conflict. That compares to only nine percent who believe the United States should take the Palestinians’ side. Fully 56 percent of Americans personally support Israel in the ongoing conflict.