Poll: Voters Want Less U.S. Involvement in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry continues his overseas tour in an attempt to de-escalate the current flare-up in violence across Israel, Americans are not so keen to see the U.S. get too much involved in the situation, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll.

According to the poll, published on Thursday, just 34% of U.S. voters believe the United States should get more directly involved if the violence continues. 55% think the United States should leave the situation alone.

The poll also shows a sharp partisan divide. 43% of Republicans think the United States should get more involved in the situation between the Israelis and Palestinians, compared to only 27% of Democrats and 34% of independents voters who think the same.

Nonetheless, a majority of Americans from all parties (60%) believe that most Americans are supportive of Israel in the recent wave of terror. Just 10% think most Americans side with the Palestinians.

Sec. Kerry met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Berlin on Thursday. Kerry said he was cautiously optimistic following the 4-hour meeting. “I would characterize the conversation as one that gave me a cautious measure of optimism that there may be a way to defuse the situation and begin to find a way forward,” he said.

The secretary of state will be meeting on Saturday with King Abdullah of Jordan and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.