July 29, 2006

Abstract: - Many adults in the United States want their government to stay out of the current conflict in Lebanon, according to a poll by CBS News and the New York Times. 58 per cent of respondents think it is not their country's business to try to resolve the situation.

- Many adults in the United States want their government to stay out of the current conflict in Lebanon, according to a poll by CBS News and the New York Times. 58 per cent of respondents think it is not their country's business to try to resolve the situation.

On Jul. 12, Hezbollah militants based in Lebanon killed eight Israeli soldiers and captured two more in a cross-border attack. The Israeli armed forces launched air strikes inside Lebanese territory to fight Hezbollah, targeting the country's infrastructure and its airport. Hezbollah has retaliated by firing rockets into several Israeli towns.

The Lebanese Internal Security Forces have reported that 421 people have been killed and 1,661 have been injured. According to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), 52 Israelis—19 civilians and 33 soldiers—have died during the conflict. In addition, 1,233 Israelis have been wounded. 48 per cent of respondents think Israel's response has been correct, while 26 per cent think the country has gone too far.

On Jul. 28, U.S. president George W. Bush met with British prime minister Tony Blair in Washington. Bush outlined his position on a possible ceasefire, saying, "We agree that a multinational force must be dispatched to Lebanon quickly, to augment a Lebanese army as it moves to the south of that country. An effective multinational force will help speed delivery of humanitarian relief, facilitate the return of displaced persons, and support the Lebanese government as it asserts full sovereignty over its territory and guards its borders."

Polling Data

Do you think the U.S. has a responsibility to try to resolve the conflict between Israel and other countries in the Middle East, or is that not the U.S.' business?

U.S. has responsibility	33%
Not U.S. business	58%
Don't know	9%

What do you think about the way Israel is responding in the current conflict with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon? Has Israel gone too far, not gone far enough, or has Israel's response been about right?

Gone too far	26%
Not far enough	9%
About right	48%
Don't know	17%

Source: CBS News / The New York Times
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,127 American adults, conducted on Jul. 21 to Jul. 25, 2006. Margin of error is 4 per cent.