Poll Finds Americans’ Support of Israel Unchanged by Unrest

NEW YORK —  American public support of Israel has remained steady in the face of the 18-month-old Palestinian uprising in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and opinion is about evenly divided over how Israel has handled the intifada , a poll said Tuesday.

The survey conducted for the American Jewish Committee by the Roper Organization also found that most Americans--56%--do not have a preferred solution to the problems of Palestinians in the Middle East. But among those who do express a preference, the largest group--13%--favored return of major portions of the West Bank and Gaza to Jordanian rule.

The poll of 1,986 people, conducted between April 15-22, found that Israel’s standing with the American people was virtually unchanged between April, 1988, and April, 1989. The uprising in the Israeli-occupied territories began in December, 1987.

Sympathy with Israel in the Middle East conflict stood at 36%, while sympathy with the Arab nations was at 13%; a year earlier, the figures were 37 and 11, respectively.

The American public is about evenly divided between those who think the Israeli government’s response has been too harsh--30% of those polled--and those who believe it has been “about right”--28%, the survey found.

When asked about solutions to the problem of Palestinians in the Mideast, 56% say they do not know, either because they have not followed the situation closely--33%--or because they are uncertain which solutions they prefer--23%.

Among those who indicated a preference:

-- 13% backed the “return of major portions of the West Bank and Gaza to Jordanian rule.”

-- 10% favored “Israeli military control of the West Bank and Gaza, with local self-rule for Palestinians.”

-- 9% favored the “establishment of an independent Palestinian state in all of the West Bank and Gaza.”

-- 8% favored “a Palestinian homeland in all of the West Bank and Gaza in federation with Jordan.”

-- 5% favored “Israeli annexation of all of the West Bank and Gaza.”