Poll shows support for Israel up in US

Internet Jerusalm Post poll offers some good news.

A poll released Wednesday [this week shows that support for Israel among the American public rose in the last year with a majority of Americans feeling more sympathy for Israelis than with the Palestinians.

The Gallup poll that forms part of Gallup's annual poll on world affairs. On some
measures, Israel's ratings are the most positive they have been since the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Overall favorable ratings of Israel are up from last year, although similar to 2001 levels. However, the percentage that rates Israel "very favorably" is the highest it has been since 1991.

Additionally, the level of expressed sympathy for the Israelis, as opposed to the Palestinians, is also the highest since 1991. Conservatives and
Republicans, typically among the most supportive of Israel, show even stronger support now than in 2002.

The poll, conducted Feb. 3-6, shows Israel's favorable rating is at 64%, up from 58% last year, but about where it had been in 2001. The highest rating to date, 79%, came in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War. [more]