EXCLUSIVE: Most Americans OPPOSE putting U.S. troops on the ground in Israel – but want to send more humanitarian and military aid, Daily Mail poll finds
Americans want to send more financial and military aid to Israel in the wake of the devastating Hamas attack, but oppose the idea of deploying US troops to fight alongside Israeli forces, a DailyMail.com poll shows.
Republican voters appear to be the most in favor of putting on American boots, with 46 percent in favor and 36 percent against.
The result shows how Hamas’s horrific attack has strengthened support for Israel while providing an exception to Republicans’ increasingly isolationist foreign policy.
The poll was conducted by JL Partners in the immediate aftermath of the attack. About 1,000 people were asked for their opinion.
Overall, a majority (55 percent) said they wanted the U.S. to provide more financial and military aid to Israel. About 27 percent and 28 percent were opposed, respectively.
A majority of Americans support sending more financial and military aid, but oppose sending U.S. troops to fight alongside Israeli forces after Hamas terrorist attack
Israeli Army Puma armored personnel carriers (APCs) move in a column near the Gaza border in southern Israel. Israel is preparing for a major military operation to eradicate Hamas
The number in favor fell to 32 percent when it came to gaining American support, except among Republicans, among whom more supported the idea than opposed it.
“One remnant of the old Republican order still exists in the modern Republican Party: military support for Israel,” said James Johnson, co-founder of polling firm JL Partners.
“Republican voters support US troops moving into the region and Americans continue to take a very hostile stance toward Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.
“Even Democrats in a recent focus group we conducted with Breaking Points supported American troops helping Israeli forces defend Israel’s current borders.”
But that could change, he added.
“Note one thing: Donald Trump’s role,” Johnson said.
“History shows that when he lays out a vision, much of the Republican base is sure to follow suit. If he were to express outspoken opposition to the deployment of troops, you can expect the polls to shift.”
Trump did everything he could to bring troops home for overseas missions and was eager to end the war in Afghanistan. He has since criticized President Joe Biden for deepening American politics. involvement in the war in Ukraine.
Then came a new crisis in the Middle East, and the risk of a conflagration as Iran jockeys for power and influence.
It is far more likely that Republicans will support deploying boots on the ground in Israel
Israel has continued an intense bombardment of Gaza since the unprecedented attack by Hamas terrorists that killed more than 1,200 people
President Joe Biden is greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrived on Israeli soil last week. He spent seven hours in Tel Aviv to show his support
Over the past three weeks, Biden has fully supported Israel, since 1,400 people were killed in a terrorist attack almost three weeks ago.
He has stepped up the deployment of U.S. forces — sending two U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups to the region — and last week he advocated offering financial aid.
“History has shown us that when terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror, when dictators don’t pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going,” he said in a rare speech from the Oval Office.
“And the costs and threat to America in the world continue to rise.”
The Pentagon has also sent senior officers to Israel in advisory roles.
Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza, from where Hamas terrorists launched their attack.
Its forces have virtually laid siege to the tiny Palestinian territory, choking off the supply of food, fuel, water and medicine except for a small number of aid trucks arriving from Egypt.
JL Partners surveyed 1,000 Americans about attitudes toward Israel and Hamas. They supported a ground invasion and occupation of Gaza by a two-to-one margin
Of all respondents in the survey, 39 percent said the U.S. should prioritize giving Israel and Ukraine equal funding, which President Joe Biden pitched in an Oval Office speech Thursday evening.
President Joe Biden addressed the American people last week, urging lawmakers to pass a spending package that included funds for both Ukraine and Israel.
At the same time it has continued an aerial bombardment.
That answer is widely supported by the American public, according to the DailyMail.com poll.
About 50 percent believe it is reasonable for the Israeli army to fully invade and occupy the area, while 28 percent say it would be unreasonable.
There is also overwhelming support for airstrikes on Hamas targets.
The only groups that said a ground invasion and occupation were unreasonable were people between the ages of 18 and 29 (27 percent said it was reasonable; 49 percent unreasonable) and Democrats (38 percent to 39 percent).
Americans also narrowly support a blockade of electricity, food, water and fuel. About 45 percent said this was reasonable, and 36 percent said it was not.
An analysis of President Joe Biden’s request to Congress for a $100 billion spending package shows that more than half will go to Ukraine, while only $14 billion is earmarked for U.S. border security.
At the same time, Biden must bridge a divide among voters and in Congress over how to distribute aid between Israel and the war in Ukraine.
Poll results showed that Republican voters overwhelmingly favor sending aid to Israel over Ukraine, compared to their Democratic counterparts.
About 40 percent of Republicans believe that financing Israel should be prioritized over Ukraine, while only 4 percent of Democrats share the same view.
The majority of Democrats, 53 percent, believe the US should equally support the two crisis-hit allies. About a third of Republicans, 32 percent, share this view.
Only three percent of Republicans believe Ukraine should be a priority, as members of the Republican Party — both on Capitol Hill and during the campaign — have become more critical of U.S. dollars going to the war effort against Russia.
About a quarter of Democrats, 22 percent, say Ukraine should be the priority.