US increasingly backs defending Israel against Iran

Poll: Growing amount of US citizens support military aid to J'lem should it come under Iranian attack after strike on nuclear facilities.

By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER, JPOST CORRESPONDENT
IAF F-15s refueling midflight 390 (R) (photo credit: Baz Ratner / Reuters)
IAF F-15s refueling midflight 390 (R)
(photo credit: Baz Ratner / Reuters)
WASHINGTON – Americans increasingly back the US aiding Israel militarily should it come under attack from Iran after a strike on Tehran’s nuclear facilities, according to a new poll by The Israel Project.
The survey, released on Wednesday, also shows American voters opposing unilateral UN recognition of a Palestinian state and continuing aid to the Egyptian government if it doesn’t honor its peace treaty with Israel.
The poll found that 71 percent of those surveyed this month said the US should come to Israel’s defense if, after an Israeli attack to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, Tehran fires on Israel.
That number is significantly higher than the 61% who answered the same way in a 2011 TIP poll.
In contrast, 22% of those surveyed in November oppose such intervention, down from 33% last year.
Click here for full Jpost coverage of the Iranian threat
Click here for full Jpost coverage of the Iranian threat
In addition, when asked what the US should do about “a UN resolution recognizing a Palestinian state without an agreement between the parties,” 57% said they thought the American government should oppose the move; 27% said the US should support such a resolution; and 16% said they don’t know.
When it came to the new Egyptian government, 59% of interviewees agreed with the statement that “the United States should cut back its foreign aid to Egypt if we think it is not keeping its treaty obligations to Israel,” of whom 44% felt strongly that that should be done.
Additionally, 35% agreed strongly that the US should reduce aid to Egypt “if we think it is limiting rights of democratic opposition and fails to protect religious freedoms.”
The survey was conducted by phone of 793 registered US voters, starting after they cast their ballots in November 6’s presidential election and continuing through November 8.
The margin of error was +/- 3.5%.