Double-Edged Double Standards: The Implications of Public Opinion for Western Stances on Israeli-Hamas Conflict

Abstract

The Israeli-Palestinian issue has long been a source of international contention. Throughout the years, Western support to Israel has become a staple of the conflict. As such, research on the matter often assumes an incontrovertible Israeli-Western partnership. However, recent outbursts of violence have been met with growing outrage about Israel’s actions, whether from the general public or the Global South. Simultaneously, there have been signs of the West’s lessening enthusiasm when it comes to backing Israel unconditionally. Existing literature points to a strong relationship between public opinion and government stance, including foreign policy, but this has not been explored in the context of Western (particularly European) views on Israel and Palestine. As such, this senior study thesis aims to examine the relationship between public opinion that is increasingly favorable to Palestine and shifts in the unqualified support given by the British and French governments to Israel. It consists of a cross-case analysis within a longitudinal design and relies on qualitative data. The thesis hypothesizes a correlation between shifting public opinion and changes in Western foreign policy on Israel. It focuses on discerning patterns between French and British responses to the 2014 Gaza war and the current Israeli-Hamas conflict. Its findings highlight a link between domestic and international empathy towards Gaza and less British and French governmental support for Israel, moderated by internal factors such as demographics and party politics.