Israel & The Middle East

Just 29% Are Even Somewhat Confident Libya Will Punish Ambassador’s Killers

Most Americans believe the Libyan government may have had something to do with the murder this week of the U.S. ambassador there and are not confident that the Libyans will punish his killers. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of American Adults think it’s likely the government of Libya was involved in the murder of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. Thirty percent (30%) consider that unlikely. This includes 31% who say it’s Very Likely the Libyan government was involved and just seven percent (7%) who believe it’s Not At All Likely. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 12-13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

51% Say U.S. Should Help Israel If It Attacks Iran

Tensions between Israel and Iran are rising again following a terrorist attack against Israeli civilians in Bulgaria, and most Americans think there’s a good chance of a war between the two in the near future. Most also think the United States should help Israel if it attacks Iran.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is at least somewhat likely that Israel will attack Iran in the next year while  just 23% see such an attack as unlikely. Those figures include 22% who think an Israeli attack is Very Likely and only two percent (2%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

62% Predict 'Arab Spring' Nations Will Not Soon Become Free and Democratic

New governments are being established as a result of last year’s so-called “Arab Spring" revolt, but most Americans don’t expect them to become peaceful and democratic any time soon.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 27% of Likely U.S. Voters believes it’s at least somewhat likely that countries such as Egypt, Libya and Tunisia will become free, democratic and peaceful over the next few years.  That includes only three percent (3%) who say it’s Very Likely. Sixty-two percent (62%) think such a transformation is unlikely, with 16% who say it’s Not At All Likely to occur.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Only 11% Think War on Terror Is Over

Voters overwhelmingly reject the idea that the war on terror is over one year after the death of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, although most feel his al Qaeda terrorist group is weaker today. But a majority also still thinks a terrorist attack is possible in the next year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 11% of Likely U.S. Voters think the war on terror is over. Seventy-nine percent (79%) say that war, declared after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America, is not over. Another 11% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted April 26-27, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

19% Support Increased U.S. Involvement In Syria

With violence escalating in Syria, few U.S. voters believe a change in the government there would be bad for America or Israel, but most continue to think the United States should not get involved.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that only 19% believe the United States should get more directly involved in the Syrian crisis. That’s up from 12% last August and nine percent (9%) in May. However, 56% say the United States should leave the situation in Syria alone. Twenty-five percent (25%) are undecided. Opposition to increased U.S. involvement in Syria is down from 66% last August.(To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 26-27, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

32% Say Arab Spring Good for U.S., 31% Say Bad

With political chaos continuing in Egypt and Libya, voters are now evenly divided over whether the political changes from last year’s so-called “Arab Spring” are good or bad for the United States. Most favor an end to long-standing U.S. aid to Egypt.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 32% of Likely U.S. Votes believe that the recent changes in government in countries such as Egypt, Libya and Tunisia are good for the United States. But just as many (31%) now disagree and see them as bad. Fourteen percent (14%) think the changes from the Arab Spring have no impact on America, but an additional 24% aren’t sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on February 8-9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

If Israel Attacks Iran, 48% Want U.S. to Help Israel

Voters nationwide remain firmly convinced that Iran is likely to develop a nuclear weapon in the near future, and if so, will use it against Israel. At the same time, most also think an Israeli attack on Iran is likely to happen within the next year.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 83% believe it is at least somewhat likely Iran will develop a nuclear weapon in the near future, including 50% who say that is Very Likely to happen. Only 11% say it’s Not Very or Not At All Likely Iran will develop a nuclear weapon soon. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 4-5, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

65% Want to End Aid to Pakistan

Hardly any Americans view Pakistan as an ally of the United States and there is strong support for ending all foreign aid to that country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely Voters want to all military and financial aid to Pakistan. Only 11% want it to continue while 24% are not sure.

Just 3% view Pakistan as an ally and 25% see it as an enemy. Most (62%) see it somewhere in between.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 28-29, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

35% See ‘Arab Spring’ Changes As Good for the United States

Most U.S. voters don’t view the political changes in countries like Egypt during this year’s so-called Arab Spring as good for the United States, and even fewer expect any of those countries to become U.S. allies.

Just 35% of Likely U.S. Voters say the new governments being established in nations such as Egypt, Libya and Tunisia are good for America.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 24% think those changes are bad for this country, while 12% believe they will have no impact.

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on November 17-18, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

26% Support Elevated Status of Palestine, 38% Say It Will Hurt Israeli Peace Talks

The Obama administration is trying to avoid a vote at the United Nations next week that would elevate the status of the Palestinian Authority from a nonvoting “observer entity” to “observer state” for fear it would harm Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and incite violence in the region. A plurality of Likely Voters nationwide agrees that recognizing Palestine as a new nation would hurt its peace talks with Israel, but voters are also fairly undecided as to whether they think the UN should grant Palestine that independence.

71% Say Middle East Peace Agreement Must Recognize Israel’s Right to Exist

Voters continue to believe strongly that a Middle East peace treaty must include an acknowledgement by Palestinians of Israel’s right to exist, but there’s very little confidence that there ever will be peace between Israelis and Arabs.

55% Think Arab World Protests Make Israel Less Safe

Most voters think the growing political unrest in the Arab world is putting Israel further at risk.

57% Believe America Has Changed for the Worse Since 9/11

The killing of Osama bin Laden brought back memories of September 11, 2001 for many, and, just a few months short of the 10th anniversary of those horrendous events, most Americans believe the attacks changed the country for the worse.

84% Think It’s Likely Pakistan Knew Where Osama Was Hiding

What did Pakistan know and when did it know it? Americans overwhelmingly believe top Pakistani officials knew Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts and strongly oppose further U.S. aid to the country where the top terrorist was found.

Bin Laden Death Hasn’t Raised Terrorism Fears in U.S.

Americans remain highly concerned about the possibility of a terrorist attack in the United States in the near future, but that concern has not increased because of the killing of Osama bin Laden. Most also feel bin Laden’s death will not worsen U.S. relations with the Muslim world.

86% Approve of Obama’s Decision to Kill bin Laden

Americans overwhelmingly endorse President Obama’s decision to kill Osama bin Laden and don’t believe a greater effort should have been made to bring the terrorist mastermind to trial.

Americans Celebrate Following bin Laden Death

As news circulated on Sunday night about the death of al Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, Americans responded to the end of the manhunt with expressions of joy, satisfaction and patriotism.

Most Americans Favor End To U.S. Foreign Aid To Middle East, Except Israel

Egypt has long been the second largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid, but despite its apparent turn toward democracy and similar ongoing moves in neighboring countries, most Americans want to end that aid to all Arab nations in the Middle East. Just over half favor continuing foreign aid to the number one recipient, Israel.

58% Worry That Arab Unrest Will Get America Into A War

Most Americans now fear that the political unrest roiling Arab nations like Egypt and Libya may get America into another big war.

67% Say U.S. Should Steer Clear of Political Unrest in Arab Nations

Americans are wary of the current chaotic political situation in several Arab countries including Libya but strongly believe the United States should stay out of the picture.