American Public Opinion Polls: Attitudes Toward the Peace Process

Should a treaty between Israel and the Palestinians be signed even if it requires that Palestine becomes an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital? (McLaughlin & Associates, Sept. 21, 1999)

Overall, do you believe that the Arab world sincerely accepts Israel's right to exist, or do you believe that the Arab world seeks the eventual destruction of Israel? (McLaughlin & Associates, Sept. 21, 1999)

In the United States Congress, legislation has been passed to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem in recognition of Israel's claim that Jerusalem is its capital. President Clinton opposes the legislation saying that the status of the city should be negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians. Who do you agree with more, the U.S. Congress or President Clinton? (McLaughlin & Associates, Sept. 21, 1999)

President Clinton has proposed to give the Palestinian arabs $900 million over the next five years. Should the United States insist that Yasser Arafat, head of the Palestinian Authority, first fulfill his obligations in the Oslo accords by outlawing and disarming terrorist groups and extraditing terrorists to Israel for prosecution, before additional U.S. aid is given to him? (McLaughlin & Associates, Sept. 21, 1999)

Do you believe the United States should demand that the Palestinian Authority remove all anti-Semitic and anti-Israel statements from Palestinian school books before receiving any part of president Clinton's proposed $900 million U.S. aid? (McLaughlin & Associates, Sept. 21, 1999)

If a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian conflict were found, do you think this resolution would lead to lasting peace between Israel and the Arab countries, or would there continue to be Arab-Israeli conflict over other issues? (Marttila & Kiley, 2/91)

In general, who do you think is currently the biggest obstacle to finding a peace settlement in the Arab-Israeli dispute?

Should the U.S. stop aid to Israel if it does not participate in a Mideast peace conference? [not exact wording]

Do you think the United States should continue to give top priority to maintaining Israel's strength and security even if Israel rejects U.S. proposals for resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict? (Time/CNN 5/8/91)

Do you think Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is mostly keeping or mostly breaking the agreements previously made in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians? (Harris)

Do you think Chairman Yassir Arafat of the Palestinian Authority is mostly keeping or mostly breaking the agreements previously made in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians? (Harris)

How would you rate the job (READ ITEMS) is doing in trying to work for a reasonable solution to the future relations between Israel and the Palestinians? (Harris)

How would you rate the job President Clinton is doing in handling relations between Israel and the Palestinians – excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor? (Harris)

Israel should withdraw all its forces from Arab territory before the other issues can be settled.

Israel should give back the territory it gained from the war of 1967.

As a result of the 1967 War, Israel now controls land that was formerly controlled by Arab nations. What do you think Israel should do — give back part of this land, give back all of this land, or keep all of this land?

The Israelis ought to give up all the territory they have captured since 1967 if the Arab states agree to peace.

As a way to bring peace to the Middle East, it has been proposed that Israel withdraw from occupied Arab lands if Arab nations in return recognize Israel's right to exist as a nation. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?

How likely do you think it is that both sides will agree to this proposal?

If Israel did give up occupied Arab lands, how likely is it that the action would bring lasting peace to the Middle East?

The Bush Administration supports a policy whereby Israel should give up territory it occupies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in exchange for peace with the Arabs. Are you in favor of or opposed to this concept of land for peace? (American Voters and Mideast Peace, Sept. 11, 1991)

Thinking specifically about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians living on the West Bank and Gaza Strip--are your sympathies more with the Israelis or more with the Palestinians? (M&K, 2/91)

Would you be more inclined or less inclined to vote for a presidential candidate who supports a policy of "land for peace," or will it make no difference? (American Voters and Mideast Peace, Sept. 11, 1991)