Americans feel need to be extra careful discussing Israel-Palestine: Survey

Survey finds Israel-Palestine divisive topic among Americans

30% feel the need to be ‘more careful’ when discussing issues publicly
Americans worry more about criticizing Israel, Palestinians than US policy
One-third say Israeli actions justified; a quarter say they were unjustified

Updated: Mar 12, 2024 / 02:01 PM CDT

Columbia students participate in a rally in support of Palestine at the university on October 12, 2023 in New York City. A counter-rally in support of Israel was also held by students across the lawn. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

(NewsNation) — Americans feel a need to be “extra careful” when discussing the Israeli-Palestinian issues outside their homes, according to a Brookings survey.

The survey revealed that 41% of respondents said the issue doesn’t apply to them. Additionally, 30% feel the need to be more careful, including 38% of Democrats and 26% of Republicans.

Particularly among Democrats, if one excluded those saying the issue doesn’t apply, 63% of Democrats said they felt the need to be more careful compared to 41% of Republicans and 51% of all respondents.

In comparison to the Russia-Ukraine war, 54% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans said they do not feel the need to be more careful. Additionally, 36% said the issue doesn’t apply to them.

The survey also found Americans are more concerned about criticizing Israel and the Palestinians than they are about criticizing U.S. policy.

Among those who said they feel the need to be more careful when discussing Israel-Palestine, only 18% are concerned about criticizing U.S. policy. Meanwhile, 30% are concerned about criticizing Palestinians, and 34% are concerned about criticizing Israel.

Forty-two percent of respondents said they do not know enough to have an opinion when asked whether Israeli military actions in Gaza were justified or not. However, one-third said Israeli actions were justified and a quarter said they were unjustified.

Americans who said Israel’s actions in Gaza are not justified are more likely to feel the need to be careful when discussing Israel-Palestine than those who say Israel’s actions are justified.

Among those who say Israel has gone too far and its military actions are not justified, 47% said they feel the need to be more careful when speaking outside the home. Of those who said Israel is defending its interests and its military actions are justified, 35% feel the need to be more careful.

Among those who said Israel is justified, 57% feel the need to be most careful about criticism of Palestinians, while 17% said criticism of Israel, and 17% said criticism of U.S. policy.

Among those who said Israel is not justified, 8% said criticism of Palestinians, 59% said criticism of Israel, and 19% said criticism of U.S. policy.

Of those who said Israeli actions are not justified, 53% — including 57 percent of Democrats and 53 percent of Republicans — said the U.S. is “somewhat” or “a great deal” responsible for Israel’s military actions in Gaza.