A new survey conducted by the "Data for Progress" institution, a progressive Democratic think tank and polling company, addresses foreign policy issues, particularly those related to the ongoing war in Gaza. The results indicate that respondents disapprove of how President Joe Biden is handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by a margin of 21 points, with 57% disapproving and 36% approving. This gap has widened since polling on this question began in early November, with approval peaking in late November after the start of the most recent temporary ceasefire.
However, the disapproval of President Biden's handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is primarily driven by Republicans, with 79% expressing their disapproval. In contrast, a majority of Democrats (61%) approve of Biden's approach to the conflict, representing a +31 point margin, which is only about half of the Democrats' overall approval margin for Biden's job performance (+60).
The debate surrounding the U.S. call for a ceasefire is also presented, particularly regarding whether a ceasefire should occur only after Hamas is defeated. Following this debate, voters continue to support the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire by a margin of +15 points, with half of the voters (50%), including a majority of Democrats (63%) and independents (53%), supporting the position that "the U.S. should call for a permanent ceasefire and de-escalation of violence in Gaza now." Conversely, 35% of voters, including a majority of Republicans (52%), believe that "the U.S. should not call for a permanent ceasefire and de-escalation of violence in Gaza until Hamas is defeated," while 15% are undecided.
