A new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds that seven out of 10 Americans think the United States should stay out of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, according to the Times of Israel:
According to the survey, while 55 percent of Americans sympathize with Israel — vs. 9 percent who support the Palestinians — the majority of Americans would like to let the main protagonists in the conflict come to an agreement without the US at the helm.
Support for Israel was at a record high (66 percent) among the 65 and over age group.
Preference for the US not to take a leading role increased by 15 percentage points compared to the previous time the poll was conducted 11 years ago, at the height of the Second Intifada. In 2002, 42% of Americans felt the US should lead talks.
The poll found that there was agreement along partisan, ideological, and religious lines that the two sides should be left to handle negotiations themselves.
The poll comes just two days before President Barack Obama’s first visit to Israel. Obama courted controversy after holding an "intimate" gathering last Monday with anti-Israel leaders to prepare for his trip.
