A recent poll revealed that 96% of Saudis believe that Arab nations should sever all ties with Israel in protest of the war in Gaza. This creates a significant obstacle to the Biden administration’s goal of establishing diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
The poll also showed that 40% of Saudis had positive views of Hamas, an increase from 10% in a previous survey conducted before the war. Only 16% of respondents supported Hamas abandoning its call for Israel’s destruction in favor of a two-state solution, which aligns with the Saudi government’s stance on the conflict.
The survey was conducted by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a generally pro-Israel research organization, polling 1,000 Saudis between Nov. 14 and Dec. 6.
Even as Saudi Arabia becomes more autocratic, analysts argue that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman must still consider public opinion when making decisions.
Prior to the war, there were assertions that younger Saudis were less concerned about the Palestinian cause and could be more open to normalizing relations with Israel. However, the poll results indicate widespread support for Palestinians and opposition to Israel among Saudis of all ages.
The poll also revealed a notable increase in positive views of Hamas, despite the risk of prosecution for expressing sympathy for the group.
Prince Mohammed had hinted at progress in talks for a normalization deal with Israel, but the poll results show the challenges he faces in balancing public opposition against potential political gains.
The survey found that 95% of Saudis did not believe that Hamas was responsible for civilian deaths, with many viewing reports of civilian casualties in Israel as propaganda. Instead, focus has been on the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza, including intense bombing that has resulted in numerous fatalities.
Additionally, 87% of respondents expressed the belief that Israel is weak and can eventually be defeated, and only 5% supported improving relations with the world’s Jews.
Despite the prevailing anti-Israel sentiment, the majority of Saudis favored a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over a military approach, with 75% supporting Arab diplomatic efforts for peace.