But Australians’ interest in the Middle-East is low, with only 15% saying they knew much at all about the region, the Crossroads21 survey has found. Michael Visontay reports

AUSTRALIANS HAVE BALANCED sympathies over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broadly speaking, these views have not changed over the past five years, but their general level of knowledge and interest in the Middle-East is low, the Crossroads21 survey has found.

A substantial majority of 62% of respondents indicated their sympathies lie ‘equally with both’, 19% favoured Palestinians and 11% favoured Israelis; 9% said they did not know or declined to answer.

In addition, 79% said their views had not changed. Of the small minority who indicated that their views had changed, the shift was modest. A net 5% indicated decreased support of Israel and a net 5% indicated increased support of Palestinians.

However, there was a noticeable difference in sympathies between younger and older repondents. Those aged 18-24 were 25% pro-Palestinian vs 6% pro-Israel, and those aged 25-34 were 21% pro-Palestinian vs 7% pro-Israel.

But all of these findings  are set against a very modest level of knowledge and interest in the Middle East and Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the survey found.

A substantial majority, 66%, indicated that they were ‘not at all interested’ or only ‘a little bit interested’ in the Middle East and Israeli-Palestinian conflict; only 8% were ‘very interested’ and 24% ‘somewhat interested.’ 

Only 15% of respondents said they ‘knew something’ or ‘knew a great deal’ about Australian foreign policy towards Israel, while 57% indicated that they knew ‘virtually nothing.’

The 15% sample was then asked for their views on aspects of that policy: “47% agreed with the proposition that ‘the Australian government was not critical enough of Israel’, 22% disagreed, while 31% neither agreed nor disagreed,” Professor Markus said.

“In a similar distribution of attitudes, when asked if the ‘Australian government should do more to support Israel’, 43% disagreed, 19% agreed, while 39% ‘neither agreed nor disagreed’.”

The report also analysed findings regarding Israel in terms of gender, age, level of education, and political alignment. The latter was measured by indicating who they had voted for at the last federal election.

“Of the four co-factors, political alignment reflected the largest differentiation in sympathies,” Professor Markus said. While most had balanced sympathies, of those who favoured one side, Israel was favoured by 19% of Coalition voters, 6% of Labor and 6% of Greens. Support for Palestinians was indicated by 34% Greens, 25% Labor, and 8% Coalition.

ONLINE CONVERSATION REGARDING FINDINGS

Join Emeritus Professor Murray Goot and Haaretz journalist Judy Maltz as they analyse the key findings regarding attitudes to the State of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – Sunday 30 May 7:30pm-8:30pm AEST.

Attendance is free but you must register here.

INVITATION TO READERS

What do you make of these results? We’d like to hear your response; a selection of reader comments will be published later in the week.

Email your feedback to editor@thejewishindependent.com.au