Brookings Poll Presentation FINAL (Shibley Telhamy)

American Attitudes toward
the Middle East
A PUBLIC OPINION POLL BY SHIBLEY TELHAMI

A survey sponsored by the
Sadat Chair
for Peace and Development
at the University of Maryland
fielded by
Nielsen Scarborough
Valuable assistance was provided by The Program for Public Consultation, especially its director Steven Kull, Evan
Lewis, and Clay Ramsay. Neil Schwartz,
Scott Willoth, and Jordan Evangelista from Nielsen Scarborough also provided assistance. Brittany Kyser and Rachel
Slattery were particularly helpful.
Survey Methodology
(May 2016)
The survey was conducted May 20-31, 2016 with a panel consisting of a
probability-based representative sample. The panel was recruited by Nielsen
Scarborough from its larger probability-based national panel, which was
recruited by mail and telephone using a random sample of households provided
by Survey Sampling International. A total of 1580 panelists completed the survey
including a national sample of 855 adults, plus an oversample of 735 millennials
(18-34), making for a total sample of millennials of 863. Responses were
weighted by age, gender, income, education, race, and geographic region using
benchmarks from the US Census. The survey was also weighted by partisan
identification and millennials were down-weighted consistent with these groups’
incidence rate in the U.S. Census. The margins of error for the national sample
and for each subgroup is: National – 855 respondents, MoE: 3.4% Millennials –
863, MoE: 3.3%
Survey Methodology
(June 2016)
The survey was conducted June 24-30, 2016 with a panel consisting of a
probability-based representative sample. The panel was recruited by Nielsen
Scarborough from its larger probability-based national panel, which was
recruited by mail and telephone using a random sample of households provided
by Survey Sampling International. A national sample of 1312 panelists completed
the survey. Responses were weighted by age, gender, income, education, race,
and geographic region using benchmarks from the US Census. The survey was
also weighted by partisan identification. The margin of error is 2.7%
American Attitudes
toward Islam and
Muslims
What is your attitude about
each of the following?
The Muslim People

What is your attitude about each of the following?
The Muslim People
53
Favorable 58
62
46
Unfavorable 41
38
Nov. 2015 May 2016 (Pre-Orlando) June 2016 (Post-Orlando)

The Muslim People

41
Favorable 43
42
REP
58
Unfavorable 55
57
67
Favorable 72
79
DEM
31
Unfavorable 27
20
43
Favorable 53
60
IND
53
Unfavorable 47
39

The Muslim People

Clinton Supporters
74
Favorable
82
26
Unfavorable
17
Trump Supporters
36
Favorable
34
63
Unfavorable
66
May 2016 (Pre-Orlando) June 2016 (Post-Orlando)

What is your attitude about
each of the following?
The Muslim Religion

The Muslim Religion
37
Favorable 42
44
61
Unfavorable 57
55

The Muslim Religion
26
Favorable 24
24
REP
73
Unfavorable 75
76
51
Favorable 59
64
DEM
47
Unfavorable 38
35
28
Favorable 34
38
IND
68
Unfavorable 66
61

The Muslim Religion

Trump Supporters Clinton Supporters
59
Favorable
66
37
Unfavorable
33
19
Favorable
16
81
Unfavorable
84

Which position is closer to
yours?
Which position is closer to yours?
39
Islamic and Western religious and
social traditions are incompatible 37
with each other
34
57
Most people in the West & the Islamic
world have similar needs & wants, so 61
it is possible to find common ground
64

Islamic and Western religious and 56

social traditions are incompatible with 55
each other 55
REP
Most people in the West & the Islamic 41

world have similar needs & wants, so it 44
is possible to find common ground 42
each other 17
DEM

each other 27
IND


Islamic and Western religious and

Clinton Supporters
21
social traditions are incompatible with
each other 13

world have similar needs & wants, so it

Trump Supporters
social traditions are incompatible with

each other 64

world have similar needs & wants, so it

American Responses to the
Orlando Shooting
June 2016
Based on what you have

heard, is it your impression
that the Orlando shooter,
Omar Mateen, was:
Based on what you have heard, is it your impression that
the Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was:
An American citizen born in the

66
United States
An American citizen who

10
immigrated to the United States
A foreigner who has been living in

19
the United States for some years
A foreigner who came to the United

4
States recently
June 2016
Based on what you have heard, is it your impression
that the Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was:
Republicans Democrats Independents
65
An American citizen born in the
68
United States
64
11
An American citizen who
10
immigrated to the United States
8
17
A foreigner who has been living in
19
the United States for some years
25
5
A foreigner who came to the United
2
States recently
1
June 2016
June 2016
Based on what you have heard, please

rank your impression of each of the
following factors that may have
contributed to the Orlando shooter’s
behavior. Use a scale of 0-10, where 0
is not important and 10 is most
important.
[On a 0-10 scale, where 0 is not important and 10 is most important]
Based on what you have heard, please rank your impression of each of
the following factors that may have contributed to the Orlando shooter’s
behavior (mean):
7.52
7.27
6.93
6.6
4.4
Feeling Self-hate of Mental illness Militant Hate for LGBT

rejected as a his own Islamist Community
Muslim in sexuality ideology
America
June 2016
June 2016
Now, in your opinion, which

one of these is the most
important factor that may
have contributed to the
Orlando shooter’s behavior?
Now, in your opinion, which one of these is the most important
factor that may have contributed to the Orlando shooter’s
behavior?
Hate for LGBT Community 16
Self-hate 19
Feeling rejected as a Muslim in

2
America
Militant Islamist ideology 33
Mental illness 21
June 2016
June 2016
Based on your impression,

was the Orlando shooter
acting:
Based on your impression, was the Orlando
shooter acting:
Under the direction of ISIS 8
Independently, but inspired by

57
ISIS ideology
Independently, for reasons

unrelated to ISIS, but claiming 34
links to ISIS for boasting
June 2016
Based on your impression, was the
Orlando shooter acting:
13
Under the direction of ISIS 4
7
71
Independently, but inspired by ISIS
45
ideology
57
Independently, for reasons 16

unrelated to ISIS, but claiming 51
links to ISIS for boasting 35
June 2016
June 2016
How much do you approve

or disapprove of the
following leaders’ reactions
to the Orlando shooting?
How much do you approve or disapprove of
the following leaders’ reactions to the
Orlando shooting?
52
President Obama
47
50
Hillary Clinton
49
42
Donald Trump
57
Approve Disapprove
June 2016
June 2016
How would you rate the

effectiveness of the following
actions in reducing the chance of
an Orlando-like shooting? Please
rate on a scale of 0-10 where 0 is
not effective and 10 is most
effective.
[On a 0-10 scale, where 0 is not effective and 10 is most effective]
How would you rate the effectiveness of the following actions in
reducing the chance of an Orlando-like shooting (mean)?
Banning the sale of any weapons to

people on terrorist and criminal 7.84
watch lists
Better security at public venues 7.32
Fighting ISIS and similar groups

7.24
abroad more effectively
Banning the sale of assault rifles,

that is a rifle that fires rapid bursts 5.75
of bullets
Closely monitoring Mosques and

5.46
Muslim American groups
June 2016
June 2016
Now, of these actions, which

would be the most likely to
reduce the chance of an
Orlando-like shooting?
Now, of these actions, which would be the most likely to reduce
the chance of an Orlando-like shooting?
Banning the sale of any weapons

to people on terrorist and criminal 25
watch lists
Banning the sale of assault rifles,
that is a rifle that fires rapid 23
bursts of bullets
Better security at public venues 17
Other 12
Fighting ISIS and similar groups

12
abroad more
Closely monitoring Mosques and

10
Muslim American groups
June 2016
Foreign Policy
May 2016
On a scale of 1-10, where ten is

very important and one is not
important, how important are
the following issues in
American global priorities:
On a scale of 1-10, where ten is very important and one is not
important, how important are the following issues in American
global priorities (mean)?
The War on ISIS 8.36
U.S. Immigration Policy 8
The War on al-Qaeda 7.77
Trade Deficit 7.41
The Rise of China 6.92
Iran 6.91
North Korea 6.87
The Assertiveness of Russia 6.72
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 6.17
Relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia 5.91
The Civil War in Libya 5.2
The Civil War in Yemen 5.04

May 2016
May 2016
Which of the following

issues should be America’s
top global priorities?
(Please select two)
Which of the following issues should
be America’s top global priorities?
(Please select two)
The rise of China 9
The assertiveness of Russia 5
North Korea 10
Iran 7
Trade Deficit 25
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 7
The War on ISIS 61
The War on al-Qaeda 11
The Civil War in Libya 1
The Civil War in Yemen 1
U.S. Immigration Policy 41
Relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia 2
Other Issue 19
May 2016
May 2016
[Open-Ended Question]
Please name a national or
world leader you admire
most:
[Open-Ended Question]
Please name a national or world leader you
admire most:
Benjamin Netanyahu 14
REP
Ronald Reagan 6
Barack Obama 4
Barack Obama 40
DEM
Pope Francis 5
Justin Trudeau 3
Barack Obama 9
IND
Angela Merkel 6
Vladimir Putin 6
May 2016
June 2016
In your opinion, which one of

the following two factors do
you think has been most
important in the emergence
and growth of ISIS?
Which one of the two factors do you
believe is most important?
Going to war with Iraq in

55
2003
Withdrawing most U.S.

41
troops from Iraq
June 2016
Which one of the two factors do you
believe is most important?
34
Going to war with Iraq in
74
2003
53
61
Withdrawing most U.S.
22
troops from Iraq
44
June 2016
American Attitudes on
the Arab-Israeli
Conflict
May 2016
As you may know, the United States has been acting

as a mediator between the Israeli government and the
Palestinian Authority, with the aim of reaching an
agreement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Whether
or not these efforts succeed, there is a question about
what kind of future for Israel and the Palestinians the
U.S. should be supporting over the long term, and
many analysts feel that time is running out for some
options. Here are four possible approaches that are
frequently discussed. Please select the one you think
the U.S. should support.
Please select the one you think the
U.S. should support.
35
A two-state solution
34
31
A one-state solution
33
Annexation without equal 10

citizenship 13
17
Maintain the occupation
16
Nov. 2015 May 2016

27
A two-state solution 41
30
28
A one-state solution 37
34
16
Annexation without equal
9
citizenship 11
23
Maintain the occupation 8
18
May 2016
18-34 35-54 55+
36
32
40
28
Annexation without equal 9

15
citizenship 13
12
19
May 2016
Favor Trump Favor Clinton Favor Sanders
25
40
24
37
18
Annexation without equal
5
citizenship 12
25
8
May 2016
May 2016
Which of the following

statements is closer to
your view if a two-state
solution is not an option?
Which of the following statements is
closer to your view if a two-state
solution is not an option?
22
I favor the Jewishness of Israel
more than its democracy
26
72
I favor Israel's democracy more
than its Jewishness
69
Nov. 2015 May 2016

Which of the following statements is closer to
your view if a two-state solution is not an option?
39
16
24
57
81
than its Jewishness
67
May 2016
Which of the following statements is closer to
your view if a two-state solution is not an option?
18-34 35-54 55+
19
29
31
78
68
than its Jewishness
63
May 2016
Which of the following statements is closer to your
view if a two-state solution is not an option?
42
14
14
52
83
than its Jewishness
84
May 2016
May 2016
In general, what role do you

want the United States to
play in mediating the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict?
Should the United States:

In general, what role do you want the United
States to play in mediating the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict?
29
Lean toward Israel
32
3
Lean toward the Palestinians
4
66
Lean toward neither side
63
Nov. 2015 May 2016

In general, what role do you want the United States to
play in mediating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
52
Lean toward Israel 15
30
2
Lean toward the Palestinians 6
3
46
Lean toward neither side 78
65
May 2016
In general, what role do you want the United States to play
in mediating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
18-34 35-54 55+
25
40
7
2
68
57
May 2016
In general, what role do you want the United States
to play in mediating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
55
15
1
6
43
78
May 2016
May 2016
As you may know, there have been

suggestions that the UN Security
Council should endorse the
establishment of a Palestinian state.
This idea has received some support in
Europe, but opposition in Israel. If the
UN Security Council considers such a
plan, what do you think the U.S. should
do as a member of the UN Security
Council?
What do you think the U.S. should do as a
member of the UN Security Council?
Vote in favor of endorsing the 27

establishment of a Palestinian
state 27
Vote against endorsing the 26

establishment of a Palestinian
state 35
43
Abstain from voting
35
Nov. 2015 May 2016


establishment of a Palestinian 39
state 20

state 29
29
Abstain from voting 37
48
May 2016
18-34 35-54 55+

state 28

state 37
41
31
May 2016

state 35

state 20
31
39
May 2016
May 2016
One of the issues of tension between the United States

and Israel has been its construction of Israeli
settlements in the territories occupied by Israel in the
1967 war. These settlements are considered illegal by
most of the international community and have been
opposed by every U.S. administration, both
Republican and Democratic. The Israeli government
has continued to build settlements arguing that they
have the right to do so, or that these are not obstacles
to peace. How do you believe the U.S. should react to
new settlements?
How do you believe the U.S.
should react to new settlements?
58
Do nothing/Limit U.S. opposition
to words
59
Impose some economic 37

sanctions/Take more serious
action 39
Nov. 2015 May 2016

How do you believe the U.S. should
react to new settlements?
73
Do nothing/Limit U.S.
47
opposition to words
56
26
Impose some economic
sanctions/Take more serious 51
action
40
May 2016
18-34 35-54 55+
52
59
opposition to words
64
46
action
34
May 2016
74
44
opposition to words
48
24
action
50
May 2016
May 2016
How much influence do

you believe the Israeli
government has on
American politics and
policies?
How much influence do you believe the Israeli
government has on American politics and policies?
18
Too little influence
16
37
Too much influence
41
About the right level of 44

influence 42
Nov. 2015 May 2016

23
Too little influence 8
21
27
Too much influence 53
46
48
About the right level of
38
influence
34
May 2016
18-34 35-54 55+
13
23
43
32
43
About the right level of
40
influence
43
May 2016
24
12
27
57
47
About the right level of influence 44
29
May 2016

Brookings Poll Presentation FINAL (Shibley Telhamy)

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American Attitudes toward

the Middle East

A PUBLIC OPINION POLL BY SHIBLEY TELHAMI

The Muslim People

The Muslim People

Nov. 2015 May 2016 (Pre-Orlando) June 2016 (Post-Orlando)

The Muslim People

Nov. 2015 May 2016 (Pre-Orlando) June 2016 (Post-Orlando)

The Muslim People

May 2016 (Pre-Orlando) June 2016 (Post-Orlando)

The Muslim Religion

The Muslim Religion

Nov. 2015 May 2016 (Pre-Orlando) June 2016 (Post-Orlando)

The Muslim Religion

Nov. 2015 May 2016 (Pre-Orlando) June 2016 (Post-Orlando)

The Muslim Religion

May 2016 (Pre-Orlando) June 2016 (Post-Orlando)

Nov. 2015 May 2016 (Pre-Orlando) June 2016 (Post-Orlando)

Islamic and Western religious and 56

Most people in the West & the Islamic 41

Most people in the West & the Islamic 71

Most people in the West & the Islamic 62

Nov. 2015 May 2016 (Pre-Orlando) June 2016 (Post-Orlando)

Islamic and Western religious and

Most people in the West & the Islamic 78

Islamic and Western religious and 62

social traditions are incompatible with

Most people in the West & the Islamic 37

May 2016 (Pre-Orlando) June 2016 (Post-Orlando)

Based on what you have

An American citizen born in the

An American citizen who

A foreigner who has been living in

A foreigner who came to the United

Based on what you have heard, please

Feeling Self-hate of Mental illness Militant Hate for LGBT

Now, in your opinion, which

Hate for LGBT Community 16

Feeling rejected as a Muslim in

Militant Islamist ideology 33

Based on your impression,

Under the direction of ISIS 8

Independently, but inspired by

Independently, for reasons

Independently, for reasons 16

How much do you approve

How would you rate the

Banning the sale of any weapons to

Better security at public venues 7.32

Fighting ISIS and similar groups

Banning the sale of assault rifles,

Closely monitoring Mosques and

Now, of these actions, which

Banning the sale of any weapons

Better security at public venues 17

Fighting ISIS and similar groups

Closely monitoring Mosques and

On a scale of 1-10, where ten is

The War on ISIS 8.36

U.S. Immigration Policy 8

The War on al-Qaeda 7.77

Trade Deficit 7.41

The Rise of China 6.92

North Korea 6.87