Washington Post-Pew Research Center Poll
This poll was conducted for The Washington Post and the Pew Research Center by telephone September 15 to 18, 2011, among a random national sample of 1,006 adults, including users of both conventional and cellular phones. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) of Princeton, NJ.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. In the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians, which side do you sympathize with more, Israel or the Palestinians?
Israel Palestinians Both (VOL.) Neither (VOL.) No opinion
9/18/11 40 10 3 21 25
5/30/11* 48 11 4 15 21
4/26/10 49 16 4 12 19
11/08/09 51 12 4 14 19
1/11/09 49 11 5 15 20
5/06/07 49 11 5 17 18
8/13/06 52 11 5 15 17
7/19/06 44 9 5 20 22
5/14/06 48 13 4 14 20
10/24/05 43 17 5 16 19
7/17/05 37 12 5 19 27
7/18/04 40 13 7 18 22
2/29/04 46 12 8 15 19
7/8/03 41 13 8 18 20
6/23/02 46 12 6 19 17
4/08/02 41 13 6 21 19
10/21/01 47 10 8 18 17
9/5/01 40 17 6 23 14
9/11/97 48 13 5 16 18
9/15/93 45 21 3 18 12
1990** 34 14 7 26 20
1982 40 17 8 19 16
*5/30/11 and previous: Pew Research Center
**1990 and previous: Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
2. Thinking about the situation in the Middle East these days, do you think Barack Obama is (favoring Israel too much), (favoring the Palestinians too much) or striking about the right balance?
Favoring Israel Favoring the Striking about No
too much Palestinians too much the right balance opinion
9/18/11 5 20 37 38
5/30/11* 6 21 50 24
4/26/10 7 21 47 25
11/8/09 7 16 51 26
6/14/09 6 17 62 14
*5/30/11 and previous: Pew Research Center
3. Do you think the United States should or should not recognize Palestine as an independent nation?
Should Should not No opin.
9/18/11 42 26 32
4/21/02 68 21 11
10/9/01* 55 28 17
*2001 ABC News poll
Question 4 Pew Research Center only (http://people-press.org/)
4. How much if anything, have you heard about the planned debate at the United Nations over the status of the Palestinian territories? Have you heard a lot, a little or nothing at all?*
*included in a list of news stories from the preceding week
Nothing No
A lot A little at all(VOL.) opinion
9/18/11 10 38 51 1
Note: The “no opinion” responses to questions 1, 2 and 3 were unusually high on this survey, which could result from attitude shifts and other factors. These questions were asked near the start of this poll, while in previous Pew and Washington Post-ABC News polls they were asked in the middle of surveys with substantial political content preceding them.
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