Half (48%) of Canadians Say They Do Not Support Either Side in Latest Israeli - Palestinian Conflict

Toronto, ONTARIO - As violence continues in the Middle East, Canadians do not express support for either side in the latest Israeli - Palestinian conflict. According to an Ipsos-Reid/Globe and Mail/CTV poll release tonight, half (48%) of Canadians say that they support neither side in the battle. In fact, only 16% of Canadians express support for Israel and 12% for the Palestinians, with just under one-in-five (17%) indicating that they support both the Palestinians and the Israeli side.

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/Globe and Mail/CTV poll conducted between March 12th and March 14th, 2002. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 1,000 adult Canadians. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 1996 Census data.

As the latest conflict between Israel and the Palestinians escalates into a vicious circle of suicide bombings and revenge attacks, most Canadians appear to be expressing the view that both sides are to blame for the increased violence with half (48%) of Canadians indicating that they do not support either side.

• This view is strongest among residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (58%) and Quebec (55%), but is weakest among residents of British Columbia (43%) and Ontario (43%).
• Younger Canadians (57%) are more likely to hold this view than middle aged (48%) or older (38%) Canadians.
• Women (52% versus 45% of men) are more likely to feel this way.

In fact, only 16% of Canadians express support for the Israel and 12% for the Palestinians.

• Regionally, support for the Israel is strongest in British Columbia (25%) and Alberta (21%), followed by Atlantic Canada (19%), Ontario (18%) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (12%). While residents of Quebec (8%) are least likely to say they support the Israeli side.
• Middle aged (18%) and older (20%) Canadians are more likely to support the Israeli side than their younger (12%) counterparts.
• Men (21%) are more likely than women (12%) to express support for Israel.
• Support for Israel is higher among those from households with incomes of $60,000 or higher (21%) compared to those with household incomes of less than $30,000 (12%)
• Support for the Palestinians is stronger in Quebec (18%), followed by Ontario (13%), British Columbia and Alberta (both at 9%). Residents of Atlantic Canada (6%) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (5%) are least likely to express support for the Palestinians.
• Older (16%) Canadians are more likely than middle aged (10%) or younger (11%) Canadians to be supportive of the Palestinians.
• Men (16%) are more likely than women (9%) to express support for the Palestinians.
• University educated (16%) Canadians are more likely than those with other post-secondary education (11%), high school (11%) or less than high school (10%) education.

Just under one-in-five (17%) indicate that they support both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

• This view is more likely expressed by those in Atlantic Canada (20%), Ontario (19%), British Columbia (18%) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (18%), but less likely by residents of Alberta (14%), and Quebec (13%).
• Middle aged (19%) and older (18%) Canadians are more likely to express this view than younger (12%) Canadians.
• Women (18%) are slightly more likely than men (18%) to hold this view.

To view the complete release and tables, please download the attached PDF files.

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For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Public Affairs
Ipsos-Reid
(416) 324-2900