Poll: Israel Isn't Top Priority For US Voters, Including Jews

[Purveyor]

Israel figures low on the totem pole for likely American voters, who are chiefly concerned with the economy and jobs followed by the situation in Iraq, affordable health care, terrorism and national security.

These are the findings of a poll conducted among 800 respondents representing America's broad demographic range in terms of age, affluence, gender, ethnic background and religion.

The telephone poll, conducted between March 18-20, was commissioned by The Israel Project, a nonpartisan Washington, DC, organization that works to strengthen Israel's image in the American media.

Project founder and president Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi told a news conference in Jerusalem on Monday that even in the Jewish community, the majority of likely voters do not give priority to Israel.

"Three quarters of the American Jewish community say that there are other issues more important than Israel," she said, saying only 23 percent of the Jewish population listed Israel as a top issue. The poll had a 3.5% margin of error.

While 51% of the respondents acknowledged that the economy and jobs were their major concern, only 7% cited the Middle East conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and the threat of Iran.

---EOE---

http://www.jpost.com:80/servlet/Satellite?cid=1206632378779&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[number6]

1. oh nooooooooo....

:hide:

[Crunchy Frog]

2. Why on Earth would anyone expect

that citizens of this country would hold the interests of a foreign country as their highest priority? Why are they acting like this is some sort of surprise?

[Shaktimaan]

3. Because a lot of commonly held anti-zionist beliefs,

particularly of the thinly veneered anti-semitic sort, espouse the notion that Jews in general, and Zionists in particular hold a dual loyalty whereby Israel commands greater loyalty than America, (or whatever country the Zionist happens to live in.) This is old school anti-semitism dressed up as legit criticism of Zionism. It is usually accompanied by assertions that Zionists, through AIPAC's invisible hand, control the US government which explains US monetary and diplomatic commitment to Israel... since Zionists care more about Israel's well being than America's they force politicians to follow policies that benefit Israel, regardless of the cost to the US.

Sound crazy?

I've read posts that suggest exactly this, right here on DU. Specifically questioning where Joe Lieberman's loyalty lies and foisting responsibility for US involvement in Iraq onto Zionists, (re: Jews), in the government and behind the scenes who did so because it would benefit Israel. (How this war benefits Israel has never been explained to me though.) I also see people routinely suggesting that Zionists are the architects behind the push for war with Iran, that AIPAC is demanding it, despite facts to the contrary.

The basis for these conspiracy theories rest firmly on a foundation of classic anti-semitism, whether the posters realize it or not. Jews have all the money and are disproportionately represented in our government. Since the Jews care mostly about Israel they pull funding from any candidate who refuses to kowtow to their pro-Israel demands ensuring their loss at the polls and the installment of an entirely pro-Israel government who bends according to the wishes of the Israel lobby.

But then it turns out that American Jews aren't really harboring dual loyalties at all. Shucks.

[Vegasaurus]

5. It's the old conspiracy theorists

with "the Jews control all the money, the banks, the media, the foreign policy".

American Jews are concerned about the economy and the war in Iraq and health care and the areas that affect their own lives, first and foremost, just like all other Americans .

[LeftishBrit]

4. Pretty much what one would expect...

people are generally most concerned with what's happening in their own country.

[azurnoir]

6. The poll results are hardly a surprise

the economy, medical care, the war in Iraq, all have far more importance to Americans than the I/P conflict.
But the question might be asked then why if this issue is low on the totem pole with voters why is it getting so much attention from folks in Washington?