Israel
Maintains Positive Image in US
By Lydia Saad
Gallup
February 15, 2017
Story Highlights
-Just over seven in 10 Americans have a favorable
opinion of Israel -About one in four view Israel unfavorably -Netanyahu's
ratings tilt positive, 49% to 30%
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and U.S.
President Donald Trump meet in Washington, D.C., on
Wednesday, 71% of Americans have a favorable view of Israel and 27% an
unfavorable view. That represents the fourth straight year that Israel's
favorable rating has been 70% or higher.
From 2005 through 2012, Israel's favorable score varied
between 63% and 71%, but with most readings below 70%. Before that, it was more
volatile, surging to 79% during the 1991 Gulf War but registering below 60% at
times in 1989, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2002 and 2004.
Gallup asks Americans to give their impression of Israel
and numerous other countries each year as part of its annual February World
Affairs survey.
This year's survey was conducted Feb. 1-5 and found 29%
viewing Israel very favorably, 42% mostly favorably, 21% mostly unfavorably and
6% very unfavorably. Just 8% have no opinion of the Jewish state.
Israel enjoys a positive image among all major U.S.
demographic and political groups, but scores particularly well with Republicans
(81% view it
favorably) and adults 65 and older (77%). While a
majority of Democrats view Israel favorably, the 61% doing so is the lowest of
any major subgroup.
Americans' Overall Opinions of Israel
Total favorable%/Unfavorable% U.S. adults
71/27 Republicans 81/18 Independents 70/27 Democrats 61/36 Gallup, Feb.
1-5, 2017
Netanyahu's Image Generally Positive
Although Netanyahu himself receives more positive than
negative reviews from Americans, his 49% favorable rating from U.S. adults is
significantly lower than the rating of the country he governs. Another 30% view
him unfavorably, while 21% -- higher than the 8% for Israel -- have no opinion
of him.
Seventy-three percent of Republicans view Netanyahu
favorably and only 11% unfavorably. At the same time, he sparks net-negative
reviews from Democrats -- 32% favorable and 41% unfavorable -- a pattern that
emerged after Netanyahu took on President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran
in 2015.
Netanyahu's image is also slightly negative among adults
aged 18 to 29, but that may be partly attributable to their greater
unfamiliarity with him.
Americans' Overall Opinion of Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu Favorable%/Unfavorable% U.S. adults 49/30 Republicans 73/11
Independents 43/36 Democrats 32/41 Gallup, Feb. 1-5, 2017
Bottom Line
Israel is broadly liked in the U.S., with a favorable
rating hovering near 70% in recent years. At 49%, Netanyahu's U.S. favorable
rating falls well short of this but is net positive. Meanwhile, Trump is
struggling with low job approval ratings, including an especially weak rating on
foreign affairs. Wednesday's meeting with Netanyahu thus presents an opportunity
for Trump to boost those ratings by engaging in friendly diplomacy.
While Americans sympathize more with the Israelis than
the Palestinians in the regional dispute, they have long considered the conflict
a threat to U.S. interests. Given this, Trump could also benefit in Americans'
eyes if he is seen actively working toward a solution -- what he has called the
"ultimate deal."
Survey Methods
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone
interviews conducted Feb. 1-5, 2017, with a random sample of 1,035 adults, aged
18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For
results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling
error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins
of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.
Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota
of 70% cellphone respondents and 30% landline respondents, with additional
minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone
numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.