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American Public Opinion Polls: Views on Territorial Issues

As you may know, a key dispute between Israel and the Palestinians is about certain areas of East Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied since the 1967 war. Past negotiations over a peace agreement have broken down because both sides want to control these areas. Just based on what you know, are you more inclined to believe that Israel should have control, the Palestinians should have control, or that both sides should allow the UN to have control unless they later come to some other compromise? (PIPA, May 8, 2002)

Israelis should have control 26%
Palestinians should have control 7%
UN should have control 57%
Don't know 10%

Do you favor or oppose the United States pressuring Israel to give back lands it seized in the 1967 war, in exchange for Arab countries' fully normalizing relations with Israel? (Wall Street Journal/NBC News, April 5-7, 2002)

Favor 59%
Oppose 26%
Not sure 15%

As you may know, Israel took control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip after the Six Day War in 1967. 
To your knowledge, has Israel given much of that land back to the Palestinian control since the peace process began in 1993, or have the West Bank and Gaza remained almost completely under Israeli control?
(Penn, Schoen & Berland Inc., and First International Resources Inc., January 25 and February 17, 2001)

  General 
Public
Elites American Jews    Influential Americans
Given land back
 22% 
36% 
58% 
0%
The West Bank and Gaza have remained almost completely under Israeli control   
46%
53%
30%
 0%
Don't know  
32%
11% 
12% 
0%


If you had to estimate, what percentage of the West Bank and Gaza Strip would you say is now back under the control of the Palestinian Authority? (Penn, Schoen & Berland Inc., and First International Resources Inc., January 25 and February 17, 2001)

 
General 
Public
Elites
American Jews 
  Influential Americans
10 percent   
18% 
24%
14%
0%
25 percent   
25%
21%
23% 
0%
50 percent  
 9%
14%
13% 
0%
75 percent  
4%
8% 
9% 
0%
90 percent 
2% 
1% 
6% 
0%
Don't know    
43%
33%
35%
0%


Israel should agree to divide Jerusalem with the Palestinians.
Do you strongly agree with this statement, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with this statement?
(Penn, Schoen & Berland Inc., and First International Resources Inc., January 25 and February 17, 2001)

  General 
Public
Elites American Jews    Influential Americans
Strongly agree   
21%  
25% 
11%
0%
Somewhat agree 
30%  
28% 
22%
0%
Somewhat disagree 
16%  
18% 
10%
0%
Strongly disagree  
25%  
19% 
51%
0%
Don't know  
9%  
11%
6% 
0%


Israel has proved its commitment to peace by making concession after concession to the Palestinians in return for promises.
Do you strongly agree with this statement, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with this statement?
(Penn, Schoen & Berland Inc., and First International Resources Inc., January 25 and February 17, 2001)

  General 
Public
Elites American Jews    Influential Americans
Strongly agree   
19% 
16% 
58% 
0%
Somewhat agree 
44%  
41%
30%
0%
Somewhat disagree 
19% 
25% 
7% 
0%
Strongly disagree  
8%  
15%
5%
 0%
Don't know  
10%   
4%
1%
0%


As part of a peace agreement between Syria and Israel...There is a plan to place American troops between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights. Do you favor or oppose this plan to put American soldiers on the Golan Heights? (Middle East Quarterly, 1/13/2000)

Favor 21%
Oppose 64%
DK/Refused 15%

In return for Syria signing a peace treaty with Israel, should the U.S. Congress authorize a multi-billion-dollar package to strengthen Syria's economy? (Middle East Quarterly, 1/13/2000)

Yes 21%
No 64%
DK/Refused 15%

At present, there are about 35,000 Syrian troops occupying Lebanon. Should Syria be required to evacuate all those forces from Lebanon before the U.S. Congress authorizes any financial aid for Syria? (Middle East Quarterly, 1/13/2000)

Yes 66%
No 17%
DK/Refused 18%

According to the U.S. State Department, Syria continues to provide sanctuary and support for a number of terrorist groups. Should Syria be required to expel all terrorist organizations from Syria and Syrian-controlled Lebanon before the U.S. Congress authorizes any financial aid for Syria? (Middle East Quarterly, 1/13/2000)

Yes 68%
No 17%
DK/Refused 15%

Should Syria be required to end its anti-American, anti-Israel, and anti-Semitic incitement in the state-controlled media and school textbooks before the U.S. Congress authorizes any financial aid to Syria? (Middle East Quarterly, 1/13/2000)

Yes 65%
No 20%
DK/Refused 16%

It has been reported that Syria has been working on weapons of mass destruction ... In return for Syrian [cooperation], should the U.S. Congress authorize a multi-billion-dollar package to strengthen Syria’s military? (Middle East Quarterly, 1/13/2000)

Yes 17%
No 67%
DK/Refused 17%

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

Date Poll Agree Disagree Not Sure
July '67 Harris 62% 17% 21%

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

Date Poll Agree Disagree Not Sure
July '70 Harris 24 43 33
Jan. '75 Harris 25 49 26
Jan. '76 Harris 25 49 26
July '80 Harris 23 55 22

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?

Date Poll Keep All Give Back Part Give Back All N.O.
July '67 Gallup 24 49 15 12
June '77 Gallup 24 35 16 25
Oct. '77 Gallup 26 36 13 25
Dec. '77 Gallup 30 34 16 20

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

Date Poll Agree Disagree D.K.
Fall '74 Caddell 36 36 28
Summer '75 Caddell 36 34 30

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?

  Favor Oppose
Gallup 3/91 73% 17%

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

  Gallup 3/91
Very Likely 4
Somewhat likely 33
Not too likely 42
Not at all likely 1

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

  Gallup 3/91
Very Likely 11
Somewhat likely 46
Not too likely 27
Not at all likely 12

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)

Favor 50.2%
Opposed 26.7%
Don't know 19.2%
Other 3.7%
Refused 0.2%

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)

Israelis 47%
Palestinians 28%
Neither 6%
Both 7%
Not sure 12%

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)

More inclined 28.9%
Less inclined 9.7%
No difference 54.6%
Don't know 6.6%
Refused 0.3%