American Views on Palestinian Statehood

Note: We are presenting raw data. When available, we provide some or all of the crosstabs (i.e., breakdowns by various categories such as party ID). To analyze the data, we encourage users to read the entire study and the methodology used. Results and reliability can be affected by such things as sample size, question wording, and question order. Responses may also be influenced by context and timing; for example, if the survey is conducted during a war.

“Do you Support or Oppose the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip?”

Month	Year	Pollster	Support	Oppose	Contextual Timeline
July	2021	Chicago Council	49%	42%	Operation Guardian of the Walls
February	2021	Gallup	52%	37%	Biden Inaugurated
February	2020	Gallup	55%	34%	Trump Peace Plan / Israeli Elections
February	2019	Gallup	50%	39%
July	2018	Chicago Council	49%	41%
February	2018	Gallup	47%	39%	U.S. Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital
February	2017	Gallup	45%	42%
February	2016	Gallup	44%	37%	U.S. Presidential Election
September	2015	AJC	52%	46%	Operation Protective Edge
June	2015	Chicago Council	45%	42%
February	2015	Gallup	42%	38%
February	2014	Gallup	46%	36%
February	2013	Gallup	44%	37%	Israeli Elections
Febraury	2012	Gallup	51%	37%
October	2011	Quinnipiac/Israel Project	44%	35%	Shalit Exchange Deal
June	2011	Quinnipiac/Israel Project	45%	30%
May	2009	Gallup	51%	29%	Netanyahu Assumes Office
January	2009	McClatchy/Ipsos	31%	45%	Operation Cast Lead
January	2007	POS	62%	20%
May	2003	Gallup	58%	22%
June	2002	Chicago Council	40%	35%
May	2002	Gallup	48%	27%	Operation Defensive Shield
April	2002	Zogby International	72%	14%
April	2002	Wall Street Journal/NBC News	46%	7%
March	2002	Newsweek	39%	44%
December	2001	Newsweek	40%	39%
November	2001	Newsweek	33%	39%
October	2001	CBS/New York Times	38%	29%	Start of Second Intifada
October	2001	Newsweek	33%	35%	Start of Second Intifada
July	2000	Gallup	40%	24%	Withdrawal from Lebanon
May	1999	Gallup	53%	26%
November	1998	Gallup	36%	26%
June	1996	Newsweek	35%	39%	Signing of Oslo Accords
October	1994	Gallup	39%	20%	Signing of Oslo Accords
September	1991	American Voters	53%	21%
September	1991	Arab American Institute	53%	21%
February	1991	Marttila & Kiley	58%	20%
June	1990	CBS/New York Times	47%	25%
September	1989	Anti-Defamation League	25%	63%
September	1989	Marttila & Kiley	50%	37%
July	1988	Los Angeles Times	40%	24%	Start of First Intifada
April	1988	American Jewish Committee	42%	43%	Start of First Intifada
January	1988	YCS	22%	42%
Average all polls (43)			45%	33%
Average Gallup (17)			47%	32%

Do you favor or oppose the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip? (% favor) (Chicago Council Surveys, July 7-26, 2021)

	1994		1998		2002		2015		2018		2021
	Favor	Oppose	Favor	Oppose	Favor	Oppose	Favor	Oppose	Favor	Oppose	Favor	Oppose
Republican			31%		39%		29%	71%	36%		33%
Democrat			36%		40%		61%	39%	62%		62%
Independent			39%		44%		42%	58%	46%		50%
Total	39%	20%	36%	26%	40%	35%	45%	44%	49%	41%	49%	42%

In your opinion, would you say the following are acceptable or unacceptable solutions to the ongoing conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians? (% acceptable) (Chicago Council Surveys, July 7-26, 2021)

Two-state solution	56%
One-state solution with full equality	60%
Continuation of the status quo	26%

Do you think a way can be found for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully with each other, or not?

	Pew (May 2016)	AP-NORC (June 2021)
Yes	50%	57%
No	42%	39%

In the Middle East there should be... (H arvard-Harris, March 2017)

One Israeli state with some areas supervised by Palestinians	26%
Two independent states, Israel and Palestine	74%

As you may know, there have been suggestions that the UN Security Council should endorse the establishment of a Palestinian state. This idea has received some support in Europe, but opposition in Israel. If the UN Security Council considers such a plan, what do you think the US should do as a member of the UN Security Council? (Note: this survey contains an oversample of self-identified Evangelical Christians) (University of Maryland, December 2015)

	Republican	Independent	Democrat	Total
Vote in favor of a Palestinian state	18%	15%	39%	27%
Vote against a Palestinian state, including using America's veto power	43%	13%	15%	26%
Abstain from voting	37%	65%	42%	43%
Don't know/refuse to answer	3%	7%	4%	4%

Do you favor or oppose the establishment of an independent Palestinian state? (The Chicago Council, November 2015)

Party affiliation	Favor	Oppose
Republican	46%	54%
Democrat	67%	33%
Independent	60%	40%

If the Palestinians proceed with their statehood bid plan at the UN, what should the US do as a member of the UN Security Council? (The Brookings Institution, December 2014)

Abstain from voting	45%
Vote against the establishment of a Palestinian state (use America's Security Council veto)	27%
Vote in favor of the establishment of a Palestinian state	25%
Refused to answer	3%

Which of these two statements is closest to your own view? (ADL, October 23, 2011)

	2007	2009	2011
"The peace process will be strengthened by the creation of a Palestinian state as soon as possible."	26%	23%	22%
"A Palestinian state must not be established until Palestinians demonstrate a commitment to end violence and accept Israel's legitimacy."	52%	56%	58%

Which statement is closest to your own view? (ADL, October 23, 2011)

"Because of the stalemate in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, the UN should vote to make Palestine an independent state."	28%
"Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are the only appropriate way to create a Palestinian state."	52%

Do you think that if the Palestinians were given their own state in the West Bank and Gaza they would live peacefully with Israel or continue their campaign of terror to destroy Israel? (Independent Media Review Analysis, September 2011)

Live peacefully	14.6%
Continue terror	74.2%
(DK/refused)	11.2%

What is your opinion on establishing a Palestinian state now? (POS, January 2007)

Create Palestinian state now	25%
There should not be a Palestinian state until Palestinian leaders end the terror and recognize Israel's right to exist	60%

Which of the following statements is closest to your own view? (ADL)

	2003	2005
Palestinians deserve their own homeland -- an independent state. Peace in the Middle East will be strengthened by the creation of this state as soon as possible.	45%	31%
A Palestinian state should only be established after Palestinians end the terrorist violence and accept Israel's legitimacy.	38%	59%

Do you agree or disagree that Israelis and Palestinians are equal people entitled to equal rights? (Zogby International, April 2-4, 2002)

Agree	93%
Disagree	5%
NS	3%

Do you see U.S. endorsement of a Palestinian state as making peace in the Middle East more likely or less likely - or not making much difference either way? (Newsweek)

	More likely	Less likely	Make no difference	No Opinion
Dec. 2001	33%	17%	42%	8%
Oct. 2001	27%	19%	47%	7%

Do you think the United States should or should not recognize Palestine as an independent nation? (ABC News, Oct. 8-9, 2001)

Should	55%
Should not	28%
No Opinion	17%

I'd like to find out what you think the impact of the United States endorsing the idea of a Palestinian state would be. First, do you think this would help the United States' effort to build a coalition to fight terrorism, hurt the U.S. effort, or would it not make any difference? (Newsweek, Oct. 4-5, 2001)

Help fight against terrorism	35%
Hurt fight against terrorism	11%
Make no difference	43%
Don't know	11%

Next, do you think this would help Israel, hurt Israel or would it not make any difference? (Newsweek, Oct. 4-5, 2001)

Help Israel	24%
Hurt Israel	29%
Make no difference	34%
Don't know	13%

Next, do you think this would help the Palestinian people, hurt them or would it not make any difference? (Newsweek, Oct. 4-5, 2001)

Help the Palestinian people	38%
Hurt the Palestinian people	19%
Make no difference	32%
Don't know	11%

President Bush has said that there ought to be a Palestinian state, provided that it recognizes the right of Israel to exist. Do you support or do you oppose this position? (Program on International Policy Attitudes, November 1-4, 2001)

Support	76.8%
Oppose	12.7%
Don't know/Refused	10.4%

The Palestinians had their land taken away from them unfairly when Israel was created. Now they deserve a fair deal, including a sovereign state of their own that can exist alongside Israel. Do you strongly agree with this statement, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with this statement? (Penn, Schoen & Berland Inc., and First International Resources Inc., January 25 and February 17, 2001)

	General Public	Elites	American Jews	Influential Americans
Strongly agree	32%	28%	19%	0%
Somewhat agree	37%	45%	29%	0%
Somewhat disagree	11%	11%	15%	0%
Strongly disagree	14%	10%	33%	0%
Don't know	7%	6%	4%	0%

Do you support the concept of land for peace? [not exact wording] (Arab American Institute, September, 1991

Yes	50%
No	27%

Do you think the United States has a moral responsibility to help establish a homeland for the Palestinian people, or not? (Time/CNN May 8, 1991)

	May 1991	April 1991
Yes	35%	34%
No	53%	55%
Not sure	12%	11%

The Impact Of A Palestinian State:

	Increase Conflict	Create Peace
ADL 9/89	41	46 ?
M&K 4/88	44	46

More Americans are unsure whether a Palestinian state would threaten Israel's security or not. (ADL, 1988)

	Jan.	May
A threat	47	41
Not a threat	33	26
Don't know	20	33

As you may know, the Palestinians in the Middle East want to establish a homeland for Palestinians on territory occupied by Israel since 1967. Do you think the Palestinians are right or wrong in wanting to establish a homeland in Israeli-occupied territory, or haven't you paid much attention to it? (Roper)

	October 1982	July 1983	October 1985	February 1988	February 1989
Right	14%	13%	12%	12%	14%
Right, but methods wrong (vol)	38%	35%	31%	33%	37%
Wrong	24%	20%	22%	20%	20%
Don't know	13%	18%	18%	19%	19%
Haven't paid attention	25%	27%	28%	28%	24%

Do you favor or oppose giving the Palestinians a homeland in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip? (Los Angeles Times, July 5-10, 1988)

Favor	40%
Oppose	24%
Not Sure	36%

If a Palestinian state were created on the West Bank and in Gaza, would that be a threat to Israel's existence? (Penn and Schoen/ADL, April 29-May 11, 1988)

Would be a threat	41%
No threat	26%
Don't know	33%

I'm going to read you some suggestions people have made for dealing with the current situation in Israel. Tell me whether you favor or oppose each one. If you have no opinion, please just say so. (Peter Hart/Chicago Tribune, April 21-23, 1988)

Setting up a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza

Favor	38%
Oppose	23%
No opinion	39%

For each [statement about an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank] tell me if you tend to agree or disagree… (Harris, July 11-August 3, 1980)

The Palestinian people are now homeless and deserve their own independent state, just as much as the Jews deserved a homeland after World War II.

Agree	71%
Disagree	12%
Not Sure	17%

Do you feel that...if Israel could be assured of its security from attack, then it ought to agree to let the Palestinian Arabs set up an independent state on the West Bank...or don't you feel this is so? (Harris, July 11-August 3, 1980)

Agree	56%
Disagree	16%
Not Sure	28%

As a result of the 1967 war, Israel now controls land that was formerly controlled by Arab nations. What do you think Israel should do -- give back part of this land, give back all of this land, or keep all of this land? (Gallup, June 3-6, 1977)

	June 1977	October 1977
Give back part of this land	35%	36%
Give back all of this land	16%	13%
Keep all of this land	24%	26%
Don't know	25%	25%