Majority of Icelanders express sympathy for Palestine over Israel in recent poll

A significant majority of participants in a recent poll conducted by Maskína for the Iceland-Palestine Association expressed greater sympathy for the Palestinian cause than for Israel. The survey revealed that 72.5% of respondents felt more aligned with Palestine, with 54.4% indicating significantly more sympathy for the Palestinians compared to Israel, and 18.1% stating slightly more sympathy for Palestine. In contrast, only 9.5% reported more sympathy for Israel, with 6.1% indicating significantly more sympathy and 3.4% slightly more. Additionally, 17.9% of respondents claimed to have equal sympathy for both parties.

The poll also assessed opinions regarding Iceland severing political ties with Israel, with 53.6% of participants supporting this move. Among these, 33.9% were strongly in favor, while 19.7% were somewhat supportive. Conversely, 30.4% opposed such a decision, with 19.3% strongly against it and 11.1% somewhat opposed. Notably, 67.3% of women supported the severance of ties, while men’s views were more divided, with 42.2% in favor and 42.7% against.

Furthermore, the poll explored whether Iceland should impose trade sanctions on Israel, finding that 41.3% of respondents were strongly supportive of such actions, and 19.8% somewhat supportive, totaling 61.1% in favor of trade sanctions. Conversely, 22.5% opposed the sanctions, with 12.9% strongly against and 9.6% somewhat against.

The survey was carried out from September 10 to 16, with a total of 994 respondents aged 18 and older, selected randomly from the national registry.