On its surface, the new Gallup poll suggests that Americans are as supportive of Israel in its Gaza attack as they were when Israel entered the West Bank in 2002 with widespread civilian casualties. Attitudes toward Israel remain positive, Gallup says.

Americans are divided in their views of whether Israel’s actions against the Palestinian group Hamas is “mostly justified” or “mostly unjustified,” but they widely view Hamas’ actions as mostly unjustified. Those results are similar to what Gallup measured 12 years ago

But scratch the surface and you find broad pools of opposition to Israeli conduct. Gallup:

51% of Americans 18-29 years old think the Israeli attack is unjustified. Most support from Israel comes from ages 50 and up …the majority of Republican identifiers back what Israel is doing. Meanwhile, Democrats take the opposing view, with nearly half saying Israel’s actions are unjustified.

Here are some of the numbers:

By 47 to 31 percent, Democrats say that the Israeli actions are “unjustified.”

Independents are similar: 46 to 36 percent.

But Republicans are Israel’s public firewall: 65 to 21 percent say, justified. Maybe this is why Democrats are beginning to mumble some criticisms of Israel? And maybe these numbers will facilitate liberal Zionists migration to the Republican Party? Shibley Telhami asks, “Is Obama out of touch with his base on #Gaza?”

Other groups that regard Israel’s actions as unjustified:

Women by 44 to 33 percent. Nonwhite, by 49 to 25 percent. That’s two-to-one, reflecting the attitudes of the young.

Oh, and whites support Israel, by 50 to 34. (This makes me a futurist, pining for the majority-non-white nation).

And look at the age break:

18 to 29-year-olds regard Israel’s actions as “unjustified” by 51 to 25 percent.

Among 30-49 year olds, the same attitude by and large: 43 to 36 percent.

But get above 50 and the attitudes swing sharply the other way. So Joe “just but bloody war” Klein is emblematic of old white guys, I’m not.

Oh and those with a postgraduate education also support Israel by a large margin. I believe that’s about The Elites.

Thanks to Adam Horowitz.