Poll: Most Americans oppose sending troops to defend Israel
A majority of Americans oppose sending US troops to defend Israel if it comes under attack from neighboring countries, the highest percentage in years, a poll released Tuesday found.
A poll by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that 55% of Americans opposed sending US troops to defend Israel if it were attacked, while 41% supported doing so.
Compared to previous years, the support for this move appears to be the lowest since the Chicago Council began asking the question in 2010.
Around 47% of Americans supported sending US troops in 2010.
In 2012, 49% supported it, and in 2014, 45% supported the idea, and in 2015, 2018, and 2021, 53% of Americans supported the plan.
The poll showed that Republicans were more supportive of the move, with 55% expressing support for the idea of sending troops, while the percentage of Democrats and independents who supported the same move was 35%.
The online poll was conducted June 21 through July 1, before the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, among a national sample of 1,056 American adults.
These results come amid threats of a possible outbreak of a large-scale war, given the possible Iranian response to Haniyeh’s assassination, in addition to skirmishes on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon that threatened to deteriorate into war.
The United States has re-positioned its military assets in the Middle East and Europe in recent days as it prepares to help Israel defend itself against any potential response.
It should be noted that these results are consistent with other opinion polls that have shown that American public opinion appears to be dissatisfied with Israel in the midst of the war on Gaza.
A Gallup poll in March showed that most Americans disapprove of Israeli military action, with 55% opposed and 36% in favor.
