While discussion concerning U.S. support for Israel and its war efforts in Gaza continues to polarize people across the political spectrum, a new survey suggests most Americans want their country to remain neutral.
A survey conducted earlier this month by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that support for Israel, one of the U.S.’ biggest allies, has decreased since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.
What’s more, most Americans don’t want the U.S. to pick a side.
According to the data, 56% of those surveyed would prefer the U.S. not to take either side in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, while 31% want the U.S. to back Israel and 11% want their government to support Palestinians.
However, support for neutrality has gone down from 64% in 2023.
From a partisan perspective, a majority of Republicans, 41%, prefer the U.S. take Israel‘s side, while only 19% of Democrats say that. Support for Israel on both sides of the aisle has increased significantly since the Oct. 7 terror attack, according to the poll.
Support for the Palestinians remains comparatively low, with 18% of Democrats and 2% of Republicans preferring the U.S. side of Palestinians.
Despite significant changes in opinions on support since Oct. 7, opinion on providing military aid to Israel has remained somewhat stagnant. Overall, 52% supported imposing restrictions on military aid to Israel. Along partisan lines, 64% of Democrats and 40% of Republicans support putting restrictions on the aid.
The survey reflects the ongoing debate in the U.S. over support for Israel in its ongoing war. On the left, calls for a cease-fire from progressives have become unavoidable for President Biden, who has frequently been met with protestors at his events demanding he do more to stop Israel‘s war effort.
While support for Israel on the right remains strong, calls to limit international aid to both Israel and Ukraine, itself fighting a war against Russian invaders, continue to grow in conservative spaces. According to the survey, Republican support for restricting military aid to Israel has increased over the last two years, with 32% supporting it in 2021.
The survey used a national sample of 1,039 U.S. adults from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The poll had a 3.2% margin of error.