Forty-one percent of Americans say American citizen John Walker, captured with Taliban forces in Afghanistan, should be tried for treason for fighting on the side of the enemy, according to the latest Newsweek Poll. But a virtually identical 40 percent say Walker should only be charged and tried if there is evidence he committed specific crimes during the fighting.

Opinion is also split on whether the U.S. should (40%) or should not (39%) favor the creation of a Palestinian state, the Newsweek Poll shows. (The split one week earlier was 39-33% against favoring such a state). Thirty-three percent think U.S. endorsement of a Palestinian state would make peace more likely, versus only 17 percent who think it would make peace less likely; 42 percent think it would not make much difference.

Asked who's more to blame for recent violence in the Middle East, 42 percent say the Palestinians and 11 percent say the Israelis, with 23 percent citing both equally. And a slim majority (55%) thinks the Israelis' use of force in responding to the Palestinians was appropriate. Only 27 percent say it was excessive. But exactly as many see Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as an obstacle to the peace process (35%) as see him committed to peace (35%). By contrast, however, fully 63 percent see Palestinian Authority chairman Yasir Arafat as an obstacle to peace; only 18 percent think Arafat is committed to peace. And the majority (63%) also thinks Arafat cannot control extremist Palestinian groups (29% think he can). Still, a 58 percent majority of Americans think Middle East interests would be better served if Israel and the U.S. continue to try to work with Arafat to negotiate a compromise settlement than if Arafat is replaced by other Palestinian leaders, possibly connected with extremist groups responsible for the recent violence (22%).

As to U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process, the majority (60%) thinks the U.S. should be involved either because of America's historical commitment to Israel (42% -- up from 31% a year ago), or because the Middle East is an important source of oil (18% -- down from 23%), while 29 percent say it's not in our best interest to be involved (down from a 34% reading last year).

The majority (60%) also thinks that once the violence between Israelis and Palestinians has lessened, the U.S. should put pressure on both sides to negotiate over basic differences. Ten percent think the U.S. should put more pressure on the Palestinians, eight percent favor more pressure on the Israelis, and 17 percent think the U.S. should not put any pressure on either side.

An overwhelming majority (79%) thinks it either somewhat likely (41%) or very likely (38%) that the violence between the Israelis and Palestinians might lead to a wider war involving other countries in the Middle East region. Eleven percent think it is not too likely and five percent think it's not at all likely. And nearly half those surveyed (48%) think that the U.S. support for friendly, but dictatorial governments in the region has an important effect in increasing support for Islamic extremists among the common people in these countries (only 30% think it does not).

More people (48%) also think the U.S. should put more pressure on Middle East governments to allow for more democracy, even if it means Islamic extremists might win power, while 40 percent think it should not. However, 81 percent think it is very (47%) or somewhat likely (34%) that if Islamic extremists do win power to run the government in their countries, they would develop or obtain weapons of mass destruction once in power. Seventy-six percent also think it is very (44%) or somewhat likely (32%) that it would lead to major reductions in human rights and civil liberties in those countries and 52 percent think it is very (19%) or somewhat likely (33%) that being responsible for people's welfare would make them more moderate and less prone to violence. And the majority (70%) of Americans polled think that suicide bombings and other violence represent a perversion of Islam by extremists. Only 18 percent think they reflect an important part of Islam's teachings.

Support for the president and the military campaign in Afghanistan remains high. Eighty-two percent of Americans approve of the way President George W. Bush is handling his job, his lowest rating since Sept. 11. And 88 percent approve of the military action against terrorism. A slim majority (53%) still believes that to capture or kill Osama bin Laden would indeed hurt the terrorist cause and reduce the chances of future terrorist attacks; just 29 percent think it would make bin Laden a martyr and inspire others to commit acts of terrorism.

As to the Red Cross and the distribution of charitable funds to the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the majority (59%) of Americans say their opinion of the Red Cross is the same despite news in the media on the way it handled distribution of those funds. But 27 percent say they have a worse opinion of the Red Cross (10% say better). And a slim 56-percent majority is somewhat confident (41%) or very confident (15%) that all the money Americans have contributed to different charities so far is generally being used for the purposes donors intended. Twenty-six percent are not too confident and 16 percent are not at all confident.

For this Newsweek Poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates interviewed by telephone 1,003 adults aged 18 and older on Dec. 6-7, 2001. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. This Newsweek Poll is part of the December 17 issue (on newsstands Monday, Dec. 10).