Days before the arrival of US President Barack Obama in Jerusalem, a poll shows that 64 percent of US citizens currently support Israel. US citizens are overwhelming supportive of Israel.
Such a high rate of support has not been recorded since the first Gulf War in 1991.
In contrast, the Gallup poll showed a rate of around 12% support for a Palestinian state.
Among Republicans, support for Israel was 78%, while Democratic support for Israel was 55%. Among people who categorize themselves as independents, 63% support Israel.
Support for Israel has increased among all Republicans, Democrats and independents since 2001, but particularly among Republicans and independents. The percentage sympathizing more with the Israelis has increased by 18 percentage points among Republicans (from 60% to 78%) and by 21 points among independents (from 42% to 63%).
By comparison, Democrats' support has increased four points (from 51% to 55%), according to the poll.
Older Americans are more likely to support Israel, the poll found, with sympathy rising from 55% among 18- to 34-year-olds to 65% among 35- to 54-year-olds, and to 71% among those 55 and older.
Another poll, regarding the Israelis’s views on President Obama and conducted by Maagar Mohot Institute and Israeli daily Maariv, found that 38% believe he is hostile to Israel and 14% believe he is indifferent. Only a third think he is supportive.
Some 32% said they don't like him but respect him, 19% view him unfavorably and 17% have a highly unfavorable opinion of him. Only 10% view him favorably.
Meanwhile, preparations for Obama's visit are continuing in Israel, especially in Jerusalem. Police forces, fire brigades and other security personnel recently held a special security exercise at the King David Hotel, where Obama will be staying. His wife, Michelle, will not be joining him on this visit.
The exercise simulated emergency situations, including a high-stress scenario in which the president would need to be rescued by a "cherry picker" basket crane. Last Thursday, the president's convoy conducted a practice exercise, going over all of the roads the president will travel during his visit. On Sunday morning, an exercise to practice Obama's helicopter landing at the Hebrew University's Givat Ram campus, near the seat of the government in Jerusalem, is also slated to take place.
In an interview with Israel’s Channel 2 tv, the US President said that his trip is meant to "listen" to both sides – Israel and the Palestinians -and hear their views on how to move forward after over two years without peace talks.
He said that there would be no big Middle East peace initiative on the table when he arrives in Israel for his first visit as president.
He pointed out that although he has made unequivocal statements about dealing with Iran's nuclear program, there is clearly a dispute between Israel and the US on schedules for dealing with Iran. While the US relates to stopping the Iranians once have made a decision to make a bomb, Israel wants to create a safety zone much earlier.
Earlier this week, Obama met members of the Arab-American community at the White House. During the meeting, the president reiterated that his trip to the Middle East was "not dedicated to resolving a specific policy issue, but is rather a chance to consult with Jordanian, Israeli, and Palestinian Authority officials about a broad range of issues.”
Monday's White House meeting, which was not included on Obama's official diary, came four days after the US President held similar talks with representatives of the American Jewish community.