PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Support for Israel among Americans is at its highest level in nearly a decade, a Gallup Poll indicated this week.
The survey found that 63 percent of Americans say they are more sympathetic toward Israel than they are the Palestinians in their long-running conflict.
The percentage is the highest it has been since 1991 after Israel was hit by Iraqi Scud missiles fired during the Gulf War, Gallup said.
Gallup said the 63 percent level is actually statistically unchanged from the 58-59 percent support Israel has enjoyed in the past three years.
"Over the last five years, support for Israel has increased slightly among Republicans (rising from about 77 percent for each of the past several years to 85 percent today) and independents, but has stayed roughly the same among Democrats," the statement said.
The poll also said 30 percent of Americans say they believe peace will come eventually to the Middle East; however, 67 percent said they doubt that would ever occur.
The survey was based on a Feb. 1-3 telephone poll of 1,025 U.S. adults and had a margin of sampling error of 4 percentage points.
