Polling Confirms Americans Want USA to Stop Arming Israel

Across the political spectrum, Americans want to end the genocide in Gaza and stop enabling Netanyahu's war crimes — but will the US Government listen?

One of the most frustrating things about the people demanding we stop calls for ceasefire and an arms embargo because it's "hurting Harris's chances to win" is that the exact opposite is true. Polling repeatedly shows that ending arms to Netanyahu expands the voter base and increases Harris’s chances to win in November. Let’s Address This.

Protesters outside the White House denounce U.S. arm shipments to Israel during a May 2, 2024 demonstration in Washington, D.C.

(Photo: Amnesty International USA)

Polling is clear — stop arming Netanyahu

Much of successful politics is about risk avoidance. And polling has repeatedly shown that notwithstanding the moral and legal indefensibility of continuing to arm Netanyahu, arming Netanyahu is also a politically indefensible maneuver. Way back in March, a poll conducted by the Center for Economic Policy and Research found that 52% of Americans, including 62% of Democrats, want Biden to end offensive arms to Netanyahu. And as Netanyahu’s siege on Gaza has raged on, the number of Americans who agree that we must stop arming this genocide has dramatically increased.

More recently, a YouGov/IMEU Policy Project poll among Democrats and Independents in the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, finds that the Harris/Walz path to victory includes announcing a cessation of arms to Netanyahu.

In Arizona:

• 35% of voters said they would be more likely to vote for the Harris if she vowed to stop weapons to Israel. Only 5% said they are less likely to vote for that policy.

• This is a strong 7:1 ratio of voter support in a state Biden won by only 11,000 votes in 2020.

In Georgia:

• 39% of voters said they are more likely to vote for Harris if she commits to end weapons to Israel. Again, only 5% said they are less likely to vote for that policy.

• Again, an encouraging 8:1 ratio of voter support in a state that Biden barely won by 12,000 votes in 2020.

In Pennsylvania:

• 34% of voters in Pennsylvania say they are more likely to vote for Harris if she vows to withhold weapons to Israel. Only 7% said they would be less likely to vote for Harris for that policy change.

• This is still a strong 5:1 ratio of voter support in a state Biden won by only 82,000 votes in 2020.

National polls agree with swing state polls

And these are not just swing state trends. Yet another poll, this time a national CBS/YouGov poll, reports the following critical facts about how united Americans are to end the siege on Gaza by withholding arms from Netanyahu:

• 61% of Americans oppose weapons to Israel’s assault in Gaza

• 77% of Democrats reject US weapons to Israel

• 63% of moderates reject US weapons to Israel

• 77% of voters under 30 oppose weapons to Israel

• 75% of Black Americans oppose weapons to Israel

• 66% of women oppose weapons to Israel

• 64% of Hispanic Americans oppose weapons to Israel

• 56% of white college grads oppose weapons to Israel

Imagine any other issue with such overwhelming support—yet both candidates running for office decide to push a policy to the exact contrary? It makes little sense. And yes, as Vice President, Harris does not have the authority to unilaterally end arms to Netanyahu just yet. But that’s true of most any policy too. For example, Harris also does not have unilateral authority to pass legislation to protect reproductive rights. However, I am grateful that she’s been unapologetic about pushing for legislation to protect reproductive rights when elected President. She’s doing so because it is the moral, legal, and politically right thing to do. Harris can employ the same future vision about ending arms to Netanyahu. Doing so would demonstrate to the American people that she hears them and is responsive to them.

It’s wise to move on from Biden’s policy on Israel

I have said this repeatedly—rejecting Biden's policy of total allegiance to Netanyahu is not extreme—it is popular and right. Doing so will better solidify a Democrat win on November 5, and Harris and Walz should act immediately. Ending this genocide by stopping arms to Netanyahu is the moral, legal, and politically right thing to do. It is morally correct because genocide is by definition immoral. It is legally correct because it will uphold the Leahy Laws and international human rights law. And it is politically correct because an overwhelming number of Americans demand it.

It is indefensible that while the global and American majority wants to end arms to Netanyahu, war profiteer corporations are predicting a doubled increase in cash flow due to war expansion. It should come as no surprise that more than 250 major global humanitarian organizations have called on the US Government to stop arming Netanyahu. Or that seven major American labor unions including the UAW want the US Government to stop arming Netanyahu. Or that major civil rights organizations like the NAACP want the US Government to stop arming Netanyahu. This is the right thing to do, and Harris should lead the charge for this cause of justice.

Without question, Donald Trump is an existential threat to American democracy. This only further obliges us to adopt every good and just policy that ensures he loses in November. Stopping arms to prevent Netanyahu from committing genocide in Gaza is one such good and just and popular policy. To increase Harris's chances to win in November, we must stand with the majority of Americans and push forward these critical initiatives today. We cannot continue to jeopardize American democracy for Netanyahu's war crimes. We must instead protect American democracy and end offensive arms to Netanyahu.

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