Poll: Hope for Mideast peace still low

PRINCETON, N.J., May 19 (UPI) -- Hope among Americans for peace in the Middle East has risen slightly, but still remains low, Gallup reported Thursday.

The outlook of respondents for the conflict indicated 38 percent said they were optimistic that Israel and Arab nations will live in peace someday, while 60 percent said they were doubtful this will ever occur, Gallup's annual update indicated.

This year's finding is based on Gallup's annual World Affairs survey which was conducted as the uprising in Egypt against former President Hosni Mubarak was in full swing, the Princeton, N.J.-based polling agency said.

The 38 percent of respondents expressing optimism about the chances for Mideast peace was a rebound after the near-record low outlook of 30 percent in 2010.

Optimism among Democrats rose 10 percentage points this year over last, from 39 percent to 49 percent, results indicated. Optimism among Republicans and independents both showed an 8-percentage point increase, up from 25 percent to 33 percent for Republicans and from 26 percent to 34 percent for independents.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews conducted with 1,015 adults Feb. 2-5. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.