Modest Backing For Israel in Gaza Crisis; No Desire for Greater U.S. Role

Americans have a mixed view of the war in the Gaza Strip, and see it in much the same way as they viewed Israel's conflict with Hezbollah in 2006. While continuing to express strong general support for Israel, the public offers limited approval of Israel's decision to take military action in Gaza. However, Hamas is largely seen as primarily responsible for the outbreak of violence.

These are the principal findings of the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Jan. 7-11 among 1,503 adults reached on landlines and cell phones. Overall public support for Israel has been undiminished by the war: 49% now say they sympathize with Israel in its dispute with the Palestinians while just 11% sympathize with the Palestinians. This division of opinion largely mirrors public attitudes in August 2006 during the Hezbollah war.

Read the full report Modest Backing For Israel in Gaza Crisis on the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press' Web site.