A recent survey conducted by More In Common UK has uncovered a startling trend: nearly half of the UK population would consider ending a friendship over differing views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The poll, which involved 2,000 participants, revealed that 43% of pro-Palestine respondents and 46% of pro-Israel respondents would sever ties with friends who held opposing stances. Additionally, 75% of respondents expressed discomfort discussing the issue on social media, while approximately 30% felt uneasy discussing it with friends. The ongoing war in Gaza has exacerbated tensions across the UK, sparking widespread pro-Palestine demonstrations and counter-calls from Israel supporters for bans on such protests. The government’s proscription of the pro-Palestine group Palestine Action, following their vandalism of British planes at RAF Brize Norton in June, has led to the arrest of at least 2,094 individuals opposing the ban. Luke Tryl, director of More In Common UK, highlighted the ‘divisive’ impact of the conflict, noting that individuals with strong views often retreat to their own information sources online, making it difficult to have conversations based on shared facts. He also pointed out the tendency to attribute bad faith to those on the opposing side, such as assuming pro-Israel supporters are anti-Muslim or pro-Palestine supporters are antisemitic. Middle East Eye continues to provide independent coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond, offering insights into the complexities of this contentious issue.
Almost half of UK would consider ending a friendship over Israel-Palestine, poll finds
