Democrats split on Israel, poll shows. Can Biden walk tightrope?
Nearly half of Democrats disapprove of President Joe Biden’s handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, showing deep divisions within his party exists about the war.
The poll found that 50% of Democrats approve of the way Biden has managed the conflict, while 46% disapprove — and that the two groups diverge significantly in their views on U.S. support for Israel. Biden’s support for the issue among Democrats has declined from August, when an AP-NORC poll found that 57% of Democrats approved of his handling of the conflict and 40% disapproved.
The Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed more than 1,400 people and the Israeli incursion into Gaza — which killed more than 10,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry — have created a political tightrope for Mr. Biden, who has challenged Israeli sovereignty has supported. since the attack, but also put pressure on the Israeli government to try to limit civilian casualties and allow humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The war could complicate Mr. Biden’s reelection efforts as he faces balancing factions of his party with starkly different views on the conflict and who is ultimately responsible.
Nearly seven-in-ten Democrats who approve of Mr. Biden’s handling of the conflict think the U.S. is currently providing the right amount of support to Israel. Of those who disapprove, 65% say the US supports Israel too much. That gap between Democrats who approve and those who disapprove has widened significantly since the August poll.
Among Democrats who approve of Biden’s handling of the conflict, 76% say Hamas has major responsibility for the war and 32% say the same about the Israeli government, according to this month’s AP-NORC poll. Democrats who disapprove of Biden’s handling of the conflict are just as likely to say that the Israeli government (56%) and Hamas (55%) bear major responsibility.
A majority of Democrats under 45 (65%) and non-white Democrats (58%) say they disapprove of Biden’s handling of the conflict. Most Democrats 45 and older (67%) and white Democrats (62%) say they agree.
“Knowing that our tax dollars could be paying for the guns that are killing children out there by the thousands, it becomes increasingly difficult to support our president and our country in general,” said Brie Williamson, a 34-year-old Illinois resident. . Ms Williamson said she “didn’t feel like voting for a Republican” but would consider other options next year.
But Kelly Taylor, a 52-year-old from Massachusetts, reaffirmed her support for Mr Biden and his handling of the conflict.
“I think he’s doing the best thing a president can do given the situation,” she said.
The poll’s findings are the latest reflection of how the war has divided Democrats in Washington and across the country.
More than two dozen Democrats voted Nov. 7 to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, for her criticism of Israel and invocation of a phrase that some Jewish groups say advocates Israel’s destruction. Ms Tlaib has said she wants a ceasefire in Gaza and this week called for “peaceful coexistence” between Israelis and Palestinians.
In South Florida, many Jews have praised Mr. Biden’s support for Israel. Donald Trump won Florida in 2020. In Michigan and Minnesota, both states where Mr. Biden won, well-known Democrats and members of large Arab and Muslim populations have spoken out against Mr. Biden.
To be fair, the conflict is intense enough to elicit strong opinions from people across the political spectrum.
“I’m as pro-Israel as anyone. They absolutely have a right to protect their interests,” said Florida voter John Montalvo, a 69-year-old who says he “leans Democratic.” Still, Mr. Montalvo added, “Palestinians have been living as prisoners since 1947,” referring to the divisions of Palestinian settlements after World War II.
Opinions about Mr. Biden’s approach do not appear to have an impact on Democrats’ support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Mr. Biden, like his Republican and Democratic predecessors, has supported a “two-state solution,” although no U.S. administration has taken real steps toward such an agreement.
Overall, about four in 10 Democrats say they support the creation of an independent Palestinian state encompassing the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Yet both Mr. Biden’s fervent supporters and his critics recognize the practical difficulties involved.
Mr. Montalvo, the Floridian who is cheering on Mr. Biden, said he “absolutely” supports a two-state deal. But when asked whether a Palestinian state should include Muslim parts of Jerusalem, he declined. “No,” he insisted. “Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.”
As Mr. Biden navigates the war abroad and delicate politics at home, he may hope his Democratic critics are more like Peter Bennett, a 72-year-old from California who said he likes the way Mr. Biden has handled the conflict disapproved. was saddened by what he called a “shock Israel-first perception in American politics.”
But Mr Bennett was also clear about who he would vote for if next year’s election is a repeat of 2020.
“I really want leadership here that I don’t think we’re going to get,” he said. “But if it were a choice between Donald Trump and a stray dog, I would vote for the stray dog.”
The poll of 1,239 adults was conducted from November 2 to 6, 2023, using a sample from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to represent the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points for all respondents.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Bill Barrow reported from Atlanta.