---
title: "Israelis and Palestinians have sharply different views of U.S., but want its help in resolving conflict"
description: "There is a 67 percentage point divide between Israelis, who have a favorable view of the U.S., and Palestinians who have a positive view."
date: "2013-06-24"
authors:
  - name: "Bruce Drake"
    job_title: "Former Senior Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/bruce-drake/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/06/24/israelis-and-palestinians-have-sharply-different-views-of-u-s-but-want-its-help-in-resolving-conflict/"
categories:
  - "International Affairs"
  - "News Media Trends"
---

# Israelis and Palestinians have sharply different views of U.S., but want its help in resolving conflict

Despite longstanding lack of success in helping to broker a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Secretary of State John Kerry has [put the issue high on his agenda](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/world/middleeast/trying-to-revive-mideast-peace-talks-kerry-finds-a-conflicted-israel.html) with several visits to the region seeking to revive peace talks. He may soon[ make his fifth trip](http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Abbas-Palestinians-keen-to-see-Kerrys-peace-efforts-succeed-316952) to the region since taking office this year.

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/06/DN_Kerry_Mideast.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/05/09/despite-their-wide-differences-many-israelis-and-palestinians-want-bigger-role-for-obama-in-resolving-conflict/)

Israelis and Palestinians differ widely when it comes to their views about the U.S. and the Obama administration. More than eight-in-ten (83%) Israelis have a favorable view of the U.S. compared to just 16% of Palestinians -- a 67 percentage point difference.

The divide is just as stark when both sides are asked for their perceptions of U.S. policies in the region. Just under half (47%) of Israelis regard them as fair and another 35% say those policies favor their country. In contrast, just 2% of Palestinians see U.S. policies as fair and 95% say they favor Israel.

When it comes to President Obama, 61% of Israelis express confidence in him compared to only 15% of Palestinians.

However, even though Israelis and Palestinians have sharply different views of the U.S., pluralities on both sides want to see a larger role for Obama in resolving their conflict: 49% of Israelis express that view, as do 41% of Palestinians. [Read more](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/05/09/despite-their-wide-differences-many-israelis-and-palestinians-want-bigger-role-for-obama-in-resolving-conflict/)