A recent survey highlights growing concerns among Americans about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with a clear divide between Democrat and Republican voters regarding who should be held accountable for the rising tensions.
About half of the respondents are worried about the potential for the situation to escalate into a regional war, yet only around 40% are “extremely” or “very” concerned about U.S. involvement as per the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Conducted before the recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets, this poll surveyed 1,072 adults, including 957 registered voters.
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Who’s to Blame?
The poll reveals that while there is bipartisan concern about the conflict, opinions diverge significantly regarding who bears responsibility. Approximately 60% of Americans believe that groups like Hamas, Iran, and Hezbollah carry a lot of the blame. Conversely, about 40% attribute substantial responsibility to the Israeli government, while just 20% hold the U.S. government accountable.
Democrats predominantly blame Israel, with nearly 60% assigning it a significant role in escalating the conflict, mirroring the views on Hamas. However, only about 25% of Republicans share this perspective.
Ohad Zwigenberg/AP Photo
Support for Sanctions
Bipartisan backing exists for economic sanctions on Iran, with 55% of participants supporting these measures to limit resources to its affiliates. However, opinions regarding arms sales to Israel vary, and a majority oppose direct U.S. financial aid for its military.
When it comes to deploying U.S. troops in support of Israel, only 20% of respondents favor this approach, while nearly half are opposed, indicating a general reluctance for direct military involvement in the region.
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Views on U.S. Ceasefire Efforts
Although expectations for a diplomatic breakthrough seem low, roughly half of Americans feel the U.S. is doing “about as much as it can” to facilitate a ceasefire between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah. Meanwhile, 30% believe the U.S. could step up its efforts, and around 20% think the U.S. should disengage from these negotiations.
More Republicans than Democrats would like to see reduced U.S. involvement, with 30% of Republicans advocating for a pullback, compared to only 10% of Democrats. Most Democrats believe the current efforts are sufficient, while independents and Republicans show more hesitation.
The AP-NORC poll was conducted with 1,072 adults from October 11-14, 2024, using the AmeriSpeak Panel to ensure a representative sample, with a margin of error of 4.2 percentage points.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press