Majority in U.S. Say Israel Has Valid Reasons for Fighting; Fewer Say the Same About Hamas
57% of Americans express some sympathy with both Israelis and Palestinians, including 26% who say their sympathies lie equally with both groups.
57% of Americans express some sympathy with both Israelis and Palestinians, including 26% who say their sympathies lie equally with both groups.
In 2021, government restrictions on religion – laws, policies and actions by state officials that limit religious beliefs and practices – reached a new peak globally. Harassment of religious groups and interference in worship were two of the most common forms of government restrictions worldwide that year.
Only 35% of Israelis believe that Israel and an independent Palestine can coexist peacefully, down from 44% in 2017.
57% of Americans express some sympathy with both Israelis and Palestinians, including 26% who say their sympathies lie equally with both groups.
We asked over 30,000 people what would help democracy work better in their country. Key themes in their responses were addressing basic needs and improving or rebuilding the political system.
Amid growing discontent with the state of democracy globally, we asked over 30,000 people what changes would make their democracy work better.
For more than a decade, Pew Research Center has been tracking global patterns in restrictions on religion – both those imposed by governments and hostilities committed by individuals and social groups.
The share of the public that supports authoritarian systems ranges from 85% in India to 8% in Sweden.
A 24-country survey finds a median of 59% are dissatisfied with how their democracy is functioning, and 74% think elected officials don’t care what people like them think.
Across 27 countries surveyed, people generally see social media as more of a good thing than a bad thing for democracy.
74% of Americans view the war between Russia and Ukraine as important to U.S. national interests – with 43% describing it as very important.
In most countries surveyed, around nine-in-ten or more adults are online. In South Korea, 99% of adults use the internet.
65% of Americans say Hamas bears a lot of responsibility for the current conflict, compared with 35% who say this about the Israeli government.