August 01, 2006

Abstract: - Many adults in the United States believe more countries will become involved in the current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 53 per cent of respondents think the situation will lead to a major Middle East war.

- Many adults in the United States believe more countries will become involved in the current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 53 per cent of respondents think the situation will lead to a major Middle East war.

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 485 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, 1,281 Israelis have been wounded.

On Jul. 30, a bombing in the Lebanese town of Qana killed 62 civilians, including 35 children. U.S. president George W. Bush commented on the state of affairs, saying, "The current situation in the Middle East is a reminder that all of us must work together to achieve a sustainable peace. America mourns the loss of innocent life. It's a tragic occasion when innocent people are killed, and so our sympathies go out to those who lost their lives today, and lost their lives throughout this crisis."

In January, Hamas won the Palestinian Legislative Council election, securing 74 of the 112 seats at stake. Ismail Haniyeh officially took over as prime minister on Mar. 28. The Israeli government believes Hamas is directly responsible for the deaths of 377 citizens in a variety of attacks, which include dozens of suicide bombings.

On Jun. 28, Israel launched a military operation in response to a joint raid carried out by Palestinian militants on a military post outside of the Gaza Strip, in which two Israeli soldiers were killed, and one more, Gilad Shalit, was captured. 54 per cent of respondents think this conflict between Israelis and Palestinians will also lead to a major Middle East war.

Polling Data

Do you think that the current conflict between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah will lead to a major Middle East war involving other countries?

Major war is likely	53%
Major war is unlikely	34 %
Depends	6%
Not sure	7%

Do you think that the current conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians will lead to a major Middle East war involving other countries?

Major war is likely	54%
Major war is unlikely	34%
Depends	5%
Not sure	7%

Source: Hart/McInturff / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,002 American adults, conducted from Jul. 21 to Jul. 24, 2006. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.