Ali Abunimah
The Electronic Intifada / June 2, 2021
Support for Israel continues to fall among key segments of the American population, another poll confirms.
The Harvard-Harris survey of some 1,900 registered voters was taken on 19-20 May, before a ceasefire took effect in Gaza following 11 days of intense Israeli bombardment.
Respondents were asked, “Who do you think is more responsible for the violence in the Mideast — Israel or Hamas?”
Overall, 60 percent blamed Hamas and 40 percent blamed Israel.
Although more than half blame Hamas, it is remarkable that two in five say Israel is more responsible.
But when it comes to those aged 18-34, it flips around completely: 60 percent blame Israel, and just 40 percent blame Hamas.
Among Black Americans, 62 percent hold Israel more responsible, as do 55 percent of those described by pollsters as Hispanic.
A majority of Democrats – 52 percent – also holds Israel more responsible.
So who blames Hamas ?
In short, older, whiter and more right-wing Americans. Among those aged 50 and up, more than 70 percent blame Hamas, as do 67 percent of white voters and 72 percent of Republicans.
This survey corroborates the findings from a Morning Consult poll also taken during the attack on Gaza.
That poll found that Israel failed to win the sympathy of most Americans during the attack. In only one demographic group – Republicans – did Israel manage to eke out a narrow majority in support.
Among Democrats and young voters, more people stood with Palestinians than with Israelis.
Israel losing its grip
Kyle Kulinski, the influential left-wing commentator and a founder of the progressive political action committee Justice Democrats, notes that the question in the Harvard-Harris poll was biased in a way that likely skewed the results even more in Israel’s favor.
As noted, 60 percent of respondents overall blamed Hamas more, while 40 percent blamed Israel more.
In the video above, Kulinski observes that if the question had been about Israel versus Palestinians, instead of Israel versus Hamas, that may have shifted.
“My guess is if you change Hamas to just Palestinians, maybe that becomes like 50-50,” Kulinski says.
“The propaganda is not working anymore,” Kulinski observes.
“When your grip on the narrative is slipping this much, even with endless propaganda on your side, it’s not going to be much longer until this really is like 60 percent pro-Palestinian, 40 percent pro-Israel.”
“People are seeing what’s happening. They see who the occupying power is,” Kulinski says.
“Israel is not interested in peace, They’re not interested in a two-state solution. They’re not interested in a democratic one-state solution.”
“The rest of the world sees through it and the younger people in America see through it,” Kulinski states. “The only people who don’t see through it are the entire US establishment and the older folks in America.”
Ali Abunimah – co-founder of The Electronic Intifada and author of The Battle for Justice in Palestine, now out from Haymarket Books
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‘Who is more responsible for the violence in the Mideast: Israel or Hamas ?’
All: Israel: 40% Hamas: 60%
18-34: Israel: 60% Hamas: 40%
35-49: Israel: 51% Hamas: 49%
50-64: Israel: 28% Hamas: 72%
65+: Israel: 24% Hamas: 76%
Harris Poll / May 20, 2021 / n=1945 / Online
