MYTH: Most American Jews Agree With AIPAC/Neocons

[rucky]

I didn't bookmark the thread, but yesterday a DUer had a great idea to fight repeated inaccuracies in postings. So the issue I'd like to put to bed is the myth that most American Jews have shifted to the right...Jews support Sharon's policies...AIPAC's brand of Zionism is the prevailing Jewish voice in America, etc, etc...

The Repubs would LOVE you to think this! It's another disruption tactic...So here's a Zogby Poll reported last month that clears up the misconceptions:

http://www.palestinechronicle.com/article.php?story=2003081419122329

Road Map: Reassuring Findings of a Poll

Thursday, August 14 2003 @ 07:12 PM GMT

"The Jewish American poll was commissioned by Americans for Peace Now and included 503 randomly selected respondents representing a cross-section of the American Jewish community .."

By James J. Zogby

WASHINGTON — As readers of this column no doubt know, I love to write about polling. Polling opens a window on opinion and gives us a picture of people’s thoughts on issues. Over time, polling can also help us understand how views change and what factors contribute to that change....

...As in our earlier poll of October 2002 we found that both communities shared somewhat similar views and would both support a two-state solution based on the formula that was being negotiated before the election of Ariel Sharon in January 2001.

These results should not be viewed as surprising given the characteristics of the two communities. While each side may include some hard-line elements and while, at least on the Jewish side, their hard-liners have formed a powerful lobby that has pressed US officials to oppose most Palestinian concerns, the views of the overwhelming majority of Arab-American and American Jews are moderate and supportive of a balanced solution that recognizes the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians....

The polls’ findings:

Palestinian State

Both communities expressed strong support for the right of Palestinians to live in a secure and independent state of their own. Among Jewish Americans, 82 percent either strongly or somewhat agree with the notion of such a state. In the Arab-American community, 93 percent either strongly or somewhat agree with the right of Palestinians to a state.

Israeli State

When asked if Israelis have a right to live in a secure and independent state of their own, Jewish Americans almost unanimously (99.5 percent) either strongly or somewhat agree with the proposition, as do almost all Arab-Americans (95 percent).

Road Map

Jewish Americans and Arab-Americans both voiced strong support for the road map to Middle East peace as laid out by the Bush administration. 71 percent of American Jews either strongly or somewhat support the road map, just as 74 percent of Arab-Americans either strongly or somewhat support the map. Only 16.5 percent of American Jews expressed some level of opposition. Similarly, just 11 percent of Arab-Americans said they somewhat or strongly oppose the road map.

Road Map Implementation

The survey asked respondents what needs to be done first in order to ensure the success of the peace plan: “Israelis need to start dismantling settlements and outposts in the West Bank and Gaza and freeze settlement expansion; Palestinians need to declare a cease-fire and stop the suicide bombings; or both Israelis and Palestinians need to take these steps at the same time.” A majority of Jewish Americans (57 percent) said that both sides need to take these steps at the same time; the second-most selected answer was that the Palestinians need to first declare a cease-fire and stop the suicide bombings (37.5 percent). Among Arab-Americans, 73 percent said that both sides need to take these steps at the same time; the second-most popular answer was that Israelis must first dismantle settlements and freeze expansion (18.5 percent).

Settlement Freeze

Respondents were asked their level of support or opposition to a freeze on all Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and Gaza. A significant majority of Jewish Americans (70.5 percent) either strongly or somewhat supports a settlement expansion freeze, with a plurality (46 percent) strongly backing such a freeze. Only 21 percent somewhat or strongly oppose a settlement freeze. Arab-Americans also strongly or somewhat support a settlement freeze (80 percent).

Ending Israeli Occupation

When asked their level of support or opposition to Israel ending its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, a majority of American Jews (58.5 percent) said they either strongly or somewhat support an end to the occupation, 29 percent said they either somewhat or strongly oppose ending it. In the Arab-American community, the majority of those polled (83.5 percent) said they either strongly or somewhat support ending Israeli occupation.

Final Status Agreement:

The survey asked respondents about their support or opposition to a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, roughly along the lines of where the parties ended their last formal negotiations in Taba, Egypt: “The establishment of an independent, secure Palestinian state alongside an independent, secure Israeli state, the evacuation of most settlements from the West Bank and Gaza, the establishment of a border roughly along the June 4, 1967 border, a Palestinian right of return only to inside a new Palestinian state, and establishing Jerusalem as the shared capital of both countries.” Among Jewish Americans, 59 percent expressed support for such an arrangement, 31 percent did not support it, and 10 percent are not sure. Among Arab-Americans, 85 percent said they support this kind of plan, while six percent do not support it.

The US and the Middle East

When asked how confident they are in the Bush administration’s commitment to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a majority of Jewish Americans (55.5 percent) are either very or somewhat confident. One-half of Arab-Americans polled (50 percent) expressed confidence in the Bush administration’s commitment. A similar percentage of Jewish Americans (41 percent) and Arab-Americans (45 percent) said they are not confident in the president’s commitment.

Finally, respondents were asked how they would rate President Bush’s handling of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. The president earned “excellent” or “good” ratings from 29 percent of Jewish Americans and from 39 percent of Arab-Americans. However, President Bush earned a net negative rating from both Arab (56 percent) and Jewish Americans (69 percent).

My comment: When we talk about Israel, please don't confuse Sharon's hardline policies with the opinions of "the Jews". It's just as upsetting when the rest of the world equates Bush's policies with the views of "the Americans."

[BurtWorm]

1. Excellent post!

:toast:

[papau]

2. Well said - and great poll data!

thanks

:-)

[Trajan]

3. Wonderful post .....

and SO true: ....

There is a great humanistic tradition in jewish culture here and abroad ... and it is UTTERLY wrong to associate the awful policies promoted by Likud and the american Likudites with a whole population: MANY of whom ascribe to that gentle and humane tradition ....

Fear creates such twisted notions of right and wrong ....

There are some here who defend Sharon and Likud, which I presume they do as liberals and progressives (This being a liberal, progressive forum) .... and I do occasionally feel a need to respond to their PRO Likud sentiments .... but we should ALWAYS try to isolate such criticisms to those who DO support Sharon and Likud, and NOT direct the rhetoric against the whole of the jewish people, KNOWING they treasure safety, liberty and humaneness for ALL humanity as we do .....

[rucky]

7. For Awhile...

The hawks have been sqwaking so loudly lately, I really did think I was in the minority. Thanks for articulating the Jewish values that I learned from my family.

[sangh0]

4. Thank you

for the info!!

[CWebster]

5. I wish

they had a stronger media presence and strong representitive leadership aside from Michael Lerner - who did irrepairable damage to the Jewish Left with his grandstanding and bleating accusations of anti-semitism on the pages of the Wall Street Journal.

[Classical_Liberal]

11. The accusations are only harmful when untrue

Answer wouldn't let Lerner speak because he believes Israel has a right to exist. Answer doesn't, and won't let anyone speak if they do, even if they oppose Sharon and the occupation. This discludes the vast majority of Leftist pro-peace Jews. There was some antisemitism in the peace movement which weren't all leftist by the way. Foxman of ADL is the one that throws out that accusation whether true or not. Look at how he behaved toward McKinney. Lerner vigorously defended McKinney.

[CWebster]

13. sorry no

Lerner attacked ANSWER and the Left for antisemitism and then lied about being denied speaking access when he wasn't even personally invited.

http://www.alternet.org/print.html?StoryID=15185

[Karenina]

6. TheJews-the blacks-the Muslims-the"other,"

It does get tiring, eh? This is a GREAT POST! Thank you. The MANY voices for peace and reconciliation on BOTH SIDES in Israel are COMPLETELY unheard, through no fault of their own or lack of effort.

[Mairead]

8. I think 'American Jews' need to speak up, then, about not funding Sharon

Because as long as US Jews are perceived as demanding that gigabucks be given the Israeli government every year unconditionally, with no regard to what they're doing with the money, then there's no way polls like Zogby's can have any credibility. It's our money that's funding Sharon's murderous policies!

[Brian Sweat]

12. I don't.

I think Americans should speak up about it.

[shance]

9. Thanks for the post. It does baffle me why many Israelis and Jews

have aligned themselves with the Right wing forces here in America.

Is that like the biggest oxymoron around or what?

Do they REALLY think those right wingo fundamentalists are concerned about the Jewish culture, heritage, and prosperity???

Are they suffering from a state of amnesia???

Dont get it........

[Sterling]

10. You are right.

Most Jews I know hate Bush and hate the cycle of violence in the ME. At least the ones with an education anyway.

Because I know better I take offense when anyone who criticizes Israel gets called anti-Semitic. Since when did the Zionist speak for all Jews?

[Muddleoftheroad]

14. Not all but nearly

Since to be Zionist means to believe in Israel as a homeland for the Jews. Most Jews support that.

[Sterling]

15. Not at any costs.

I don't know many Jews who believe it is worth what is being done to secure it. Maybe I should chalk it up to having higher class friends?

[Darranar]

16. Thank you, rucky!

I'm one of those anti-AIPAC anti-Sharon american Jews.

[Resistance]

17. absolutely agreed with your comment

I would also add that the opinion of "the Jews" is just as wide and varied as the opinion of any religious or ethnic group.

[loudnclear]

18. Here is a site that supports your research...http://www.tikkun.org/

http://www.tikkun.org/

A great site for getting "the rest of the story."