CAMERA
A poll of more than 1000 American Jews conducted by Frank Luntz, PhD of Luntz Global on behalf of CAMERA on May 16-17 finds continuing, deep support for Israel.
News media accounts often amplify a vocal fringe in the American Jewish community that espouses extreme views and policies far out of the mainstream. Often, for example, J Street, a group whose views represent a tiny percentage of American Jews, is reported as an equal counterpart to AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, whose various positions, according to the poll, express majority, mainstream views.
Similarly, some news reports have claimed American Jews are increasingly alienated from Israel due to perceived failures of the Israeli government and people to move expeditiously to achieve peace.
In fact, the poll results show strong belief in Israel’s commitment to peace efforts and apprehension about its existential situation and its Palestinian adversaries with their “culture of hatred.” Survey respondents also expressed strong support for Israel’s right to self-defense and opposition to those who would pressure or sanction the Jewish state.
Among key findings are the following:
Ninety-four percent of respondents said if Israel ‘no longer existed tomorrow’ it would be a tragedy. Nearly one in four said they would consider such an event ‘the biggest tragedy of my lifetime.’ The concern is reflected in emphatic sentiment (85%) that Israel ‘is right to take threats to its existence seriously,’ that Israel’s concerns are neither ‘irrational’ nor ‘overstated.'”
American Jews expressed strong belief the Israeli government (84%) and its people (85%) are committed to establishing genuine peace between Israel and the Palestinian people. At the same time, respondents were far more skeptical of the Palestinian commitment and consider Palestinian incitement against Israel – its “culture of hatred” – to be a major obstacle to peace (77%), far more so than settlements (12%) or “occupation” (12%).
Fully 78% of respondents consider it “very to 100% necessary” for Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, with an additional 12% considering it “somewhat necessary.” This mirrors the position of the Israeli government that such acknowledgment is important as a measure of Palestinian willingness to coexist with a sovereign Jewish nation.
Reflecting apprehension about the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, more than two-thirds of respondents fear such a state would shortly “attack Israel” and 72% fear Iran would support “more terror” against Israel by the Palestinians.
The new PA-Hamas coalition also evokes strong concern, with 77% saying Israel should “refuse to negotiate with the Palestinian Authority until Hamas renounces terrorism and officially recognizes Israel’s right to exist.”
Reflecting an awareness that more than a million Arabs live in Israel, 9 out of 10 American Jews strongly support the view (92%) that Jews should be allowed to live in any future Palestinian state.
On matters having to do with congressional support for Israel, 81% of American Jews say they would be more likely to vote for a representative who signed a letter deploring Palestinian incitement.
In contrast, there is strong opposition, nearly 3 out of 4 Jews, to actions such as promoting appearances in Congress by Judge Richard Goldstone, head of the U.N. panel that falsely accused Israeli forces of targeting civilians in the Gaza Strip. A fringe of only 5% would support such activity.
Likewise, American Jews strongly oppose (71%) boycott, divestment and sanction campaigns against Israel, with a nearly equal number (68%) opposing such action more narrowly focused against settlements.
The media is ignorant; they are ignorant of the christian, and jewish faiths, that binds us with Israel. Our future is connected to that of Israel-there’s a reason that God stated: “If you stand with Israel, I will bless you; if you Go against Israel, I will condemn you!” Soemthing the media will never understand.
Once again the media are lying scoundrels.
While specific replies to directed Israel questions tend to be on the positive side with a good general awareness of Israel’s geopolitical and security concerns. The below data renders those favorable replies mute, mute because as anyone can see Israel is neither a major concern or priority of American Jews. They are Americans first and foremost with concerns and priorities of and as Americans not Jews, not Zionists. They are mostly disconnected Jews with some affinity and some awareness but we are not a major concern or priority for American Jews
It is my opinion that Jews should support Israel without any preconditions. Jewish support should never be predicated on any list of preconditions as many of the questions in this and other polls present.
The only questions of any relevance I can see here are the ones I posted as they go to the heart and soul of just how important Israel is to american Jews. The ans. Not very important.
In the upcoming 2012 presidential election, which candidate position is the most
important to you? All of these matter, but which matters most?
37% ECONOMY AND JOBS
13% SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE
13% DEBT, DEFICIT, AND THE BUDGET
11% HEALTH CARE
7% HOMELAND SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
6% ISRAEL
COMBINED ANSWERS) In the upcoming 2012 presidential election, which candidate
position is the most important to you? All of these matter, but which matters most? And
what is the second most important to you?
56% ECONOMY AND JOBS
30% HEALTH CARE
27% DEBT, DEFICIT, AND THE BUDGET
26% SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE
17% HOMELAND SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
12% ISRAEL
12% TAXES
If Israel no longer existed tomorrow, I would consider it to be…
TOTAL
24% THE BIGGEST TRAGEDY OF MY LIFETIME
58% A MAJOR TRAGEDY THAT PERSONALLY CONCERNED ME Almost meaningless.
12% A TRAGEDY THAT DID NOT PERSONALLY CONCERN ME
6% AN UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME BUT NOT THAT IMPORTANT TO
ME AT ALL
Earlier this year, a bipartisan Congressional letter to President Obama signed by 46
Members of House Foreign Affairs committee called for an end to Palestinian
incitement which they wrote, “damages the prospects” for peace and “encourages
terrorism.” Overall, do you SUPPORT or OPPOSE Congressional measures that
call for an end to Palestinian incitement and similar issues?
TOTAL
49% STRONGLY SUPPORT. IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. OUR
LEADERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO STAND UP AGAINST
HATRED IN THE MIDDLE EAST. NO EXCUSES.
32% SUPPORT. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE OUR LEADERS SHOULD BE
FAIR. THEY SHOULD CRITICIZE ISRAEL AT THE SAME TIME
FOR ITS OWN WRONG DOINGS AS WELL. (Very even handed)
6% OPPOSE. OUR LEADERS IN AMERICA HAVE MORE
IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO THAN COMMENT ON THE MIDDLE
EAST.
1% STRONGLY OPPOSE. WE SHOULD BE CRITICIZING ISRAEL
FOR ITS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, NOT THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE
13% I REALLY DO NOT KNOW
81% TOTAL SUPPORT??????
7% TOTAL OPPOSE