A new poll indicates that more than 60% of American voters want a cease-fire, while only 11% of lawmakers support ending the war in Israel.
Support among members of the US Congress for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Gaza is far lower than that of voters.
Data for Progress, a US progressive think tank, said Tuesday that 61% of likely US voters support calls for a permanent ceasefire and de-escalation of violence in Israel’s war against the Palestinian enclave besieged, which has killed more than 16,000 people since. October 7.
Citing the poll in a post on the social media platform called for a ceasefire. 76 percent of Democratic voters support a ceasefire.
61% of Americans support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
76% Democrats.
57% Independents.
49% Republicans.
But only… 11% of Congress called for a ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/kJRkFFNGUl
– Rep. Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) December 5, 2023
Last week, Tlaib – the only Palestinian-American member of Congress to be censured by the US House of Representatives on November 7 – lashed out at the White House for calling the few dozen lawmakers who demanded a ceasefire at the start of the war.
The Data for Progress survey, conducted in late November among more than 1,000 likely American voters, found that the majority of respondents were concerned about the rise in hatred toward Jewish, Arab and Muslim communities in the United States since the start of the war.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a measure equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, a measure that Palestinian rights advocates denounced as “dangerous,” warning that it aims to restrict free speech and to distract attention from the war.
“Position change”
When asked what the U.S. government’s priorities should be in its foreign policy approach to the crisis, about half of respondents mentioned diplomatic efforts, and about 30 percent mentioned humanitarian assistance.
“Fewer than one in four voters (24%) choose “sending additional military aid and weapons to Israel” – and only 11% choose “sending US troops to help Israeli forces in Gaza “as a priority,” noted Data for Progress.
The U.S. government provides billions of dollars in military support to Israel and has sent additional money to taxpayers since the war began.
However, the Biden administration announced a decision on Tuesday to impose visa restrictions on “extremist” Israeli settlers involved in undermining peace, security or stability in the occupied West Bank.
This represents a “shift in position” on the conflict, Youcef Bouandel, professor of political science and international relations at Qatar University, told Tel Aviv Tribune. However, he added that this measure “does not go far enough”.
Ariel Gold, executive director of the US-based Fellowship of Reconciliation, told Tel Aviv Tribune the policy was “virtue signaling” as many settlers hold dual nationality and do not need a visa to enter the United States.
Last month, another Gallup poll found that 45 percent of Americans disapproved of Israeli military action in Gaza. It found that 63 percent of Democrats, 64 percent of people of color, and 67 percent of young people ages 18 to 34 were all opposed to the war.
Only 32% of Americans approve of President Joe Biden’s handling of the situation between Israel and Hamas, Gallup said.