49% of US Voters: Israel not to Blame for Flotilla Deaths

According to a US poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports, nearly half of American voters surveyed believe that Pro-Palestinian activists aboard Gaza-bound flotilla ships involved in the crisis last week were to blame for the loss of life. Interviews of 1,000 likely U.S. voters were conducted with statistics showing that 49 per cent of them fault pro-Palestinian activists while a mere 19% of them believe that Israel was to blame. Another 32 per cent said they were not sure or undecided.

The loss of life in the flotilla raids amounted to nine deaths when the IDF intercepted six aid ships. The sixth ship, Mavi Marmara vessel, was raided by the IDF in international waters leading to open-fire that the IDF says was an act of self-defense after being attacked by activists armed with knives, poles, and other weapons.

Despite the lack of culpability on Israel for the loss of life according to the results of the nation-wide survey, 51 per cent of those surveyed believe Israel should allow for an international investigation of the incident. 25 per cent rejected this idea, and 24 per cent were undecided.

Along with the 49 per cent who believe Israel is not to blame for the incident, another 49 per cent believe that countries are too critical of Israel. 21 per cent believe they are not critical enough and 17 per cent said neither.

70 per cent of voters said they have been informed of the incident through news reports on the Gaza flotilla incident. 28 per cent have not been following closely, if at all.

A majority of those surveyed, 73 per cent, think it is unlikely that a peace agreement will be reached between Israel and the Palestinians in the next 10 years.

58 per cent view Israel as a U.S. ally and two per cent as an enemy, with 32 per cent saying the country is somewhere in between the two.

The survey, based on interviews, had a +/-3 percent sampling error margin.