American Views of the Mideast Conflict
Congress's overwhelming backing of Israel's use of force in the West Bank is reflective of the politics of Washington, but it runs counter to the tone of American public opinion about the crisis in the Middle East. Americans are and consistently have been more sympathetic to Israelis than to the Palestinians, and that feeling was reinforced by the attacks on Sept. 11 and the suicide bombings in Israel this spring. But average Americans see shades of gray in the Middle East conflict, and their sympathies notwithstanding, they favor a neutral role for the United States.

The public's view is more nuanced. Almost all polls find a plurality of Americans taking the side of Israel in general terms. In a nationwide Pew survey in April, 41 percent of Americans sympathized more with the Israelis and only 13 percent were more sympathetic to the Palestinians. And in an ABC/Washington Post survey, also in April, asking which side was more responsible for the current violence, 50 percent said the Palestinians were and only 20 percent said Israel. By and large, public opinion about the two sides has not been transformed by the events of the past eight months.

Americans are quite sensitive to the particulars of the Mideast crisis. In response to Israel's incursions into the West Bank, two in three respondents said Israel was justified in defending itself; yet almost as many have said Israel should use greater restraint in its retaliation and has not done enough to avoid civilian casualties

Despite the abhorrence of Palestinian tactics and the public's pro-Israeli stance, polls have found steady support for an independent Palestinian state. In fact, the ABC/Washington Post survey found support for American recognition of a Palestinian state jumping to 68 percent in late April from 55 percent last fall.

American elected officials are well aware of voter support for Israel overall, but they are also quite attuned to politically important variations in American attitudes. For example, among white evangelical Republicans — a sizable voting bloc and a center of power within the party — 62 percent favored Israel, compared with only 8 percent for the Palestinians. Israel's biblical claim to the land is an important factor in explaining the support of many Americans, according to a Gallup survey. Among secular Democrats, a much smaller group, 28 percent sympathized with the Palestinians and 26 percent with the Israelis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/14/opinion/14KOHU.html