JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – MARCH 21: (ISRAEL OUT) Final preparations are made before US President Barack Obama’s speech to Israeli students on March 21, 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel. This is President Obama’s first visit as president to the region, and his itinerary includes meetings with the Palestinian and Israeli leaders as well as a visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) A poll released on July 20 found that approximately 67% of U.S. voters say they support Israel.
The poll, conducted by The Mellman Group on behalf of Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI), found that 73% said they view Israel as a staunch ally of the United States and 62% said support for Israel is necessary for U.S. national security interests. Among Democrats, those numbers were 72% and 59%, respectively.
The poll also found that 66% of voters think U.S. aid to Israel either should stay at current levels or increase; 70% say they support the Democratic Party’s 2016 platform on Israel, which expressed opposition to the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement and reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself. Those numbers among Democrats were 63% and 71%, respectively. Only 18% of overall voters and 29% of Democrats said the Democratic 2020 platform should be more pro-Palestinian.
Additionally, the poll found that support of Israel is crucial to winning background states, as a generic pro-Israel Democrat beats a generic pro-Israel Republican 51% to 38% among voters in battleground states. A generic Democrat that isn’t pro-Israel loses to a generic Republican by a margin of a 44% to 40% among battleground voters.
Voters overall have a favorable view of Israel − 62% favorable to 17% unfavorable − as do Democrat voters − 57% favorable to 25% unfavorable.
“Most voters – including Democrats and those in crucial battleground states – view Israel positively, oppose cutting U.S. security assistance to Israel, prefer pro-Israel candidates, and believe the Democratic platform should remain pro-Israel,” the survey concludes. “The Democratic Party should make every effort – starting with the platform – to communicate its pro-Israel positions to voters in the coming months.”
The poll was taken July 8-13 and 1,000 voters were surveyed nationwide.
The publication of the survey comes after Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reported on July 16 that the 2020 Democratic Party platform will remain the same on Israel as the 2016 party platform; some progressive groups had advocated for the platform to condemn the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.