65% of Republicans calls Israel’s actions justified, 36% of Independents saying they were justified, but only 31% of Democrats agreeing.
By JTA
WASHINGTON — A Gallup poll shows that support among Americans for Israel during the Gaza Strip conflict is divided, and is low among younger Americans.
The poll posted on the pollster’s website Thursday showed a statistical dead heat between those who believe Israel’s actions against Hamas are justified, 42%, and those who believe they are unjustified, 39%The difference was within the poll’s margin of error of four percentage points.
Reactions to Hamas were lopsided, with 70% calling the group’s actions unjustified and just 11% describing them as justified.
Older Americans were much likelier to say Israel’s actions were justified: 55% of those over 65; 53% of those between 50-64; 36% of those 30-49 and just 25% of those 18-29.
There were other dramatic differences in how subgroups measured support for Israel, with 65% of Republicans calling Israel’s actions justified and just 31% of Democrats and 36% of Independents saying they were justified; 50% of whites said Israel was justified, while just 25% of non-whites agreed with that characterization; 51% of men agreed and 33% of women.
The poll was based on 1,018 phone interviews conducted from July 22-23.
Israel launched Operation Protective Edge on July 8 after an intensification of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. More than 1000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed since then, as have 36 Israelis, including 42 troops.