Israeli Public Opinion after the November 2012 Gaza War

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In a new poll of Israelis conducted by Shibley Telhami, Brookings Non-Resident Senior Fellow and Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland, 60 percent of Israelis have a favorable view of President Obama – up 6 points from last year. In addition, Israeli Jews now cite Obama as the most admired world leader, and more Israelis think American support for their security interests has increased. Overall there has been an increase in Israeli optimism regarding U.S.-Israeli relations in Obama’s second term.

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The poll, conducted in late November, also highlights perceptions on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Forty-five percent of respondents felt neither Israel or Hamas emerged victorious from the recent conflict. Thirty-eight percent of respondents think Israel isn’t any better or worse off than before the escalation in Gaza. Forty percent of respondents believe the fighting in Gaza will not end; 29 percent believe fighting will end when there is a political final status with the Palestinians.