| Compare the numbers below to the 78% who voted for Candidate Obama in 2008. |
The 2010 Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion, commissioned by the American Jewish Committee, found that 47 percent approve of Obamas strategy vis-a-vis Iran, while 42% disapprove and 11% are unsure.
Released on Friday, ahead of Obamas nuclear summit in Washington, the survey found that a majority of American Jews have little faith that the Iranian regime would abandon its nuclear program; 68% of those surveyed said there is “little' or “no' chance that sanctions and diplomacy will curb the Islamic Republics nuclear program. A slim majority – 53% – would support American military action against Iran, while 63% would support Israeli military action.
Overall, those surveyed gave the president a 57% approval rating on a range of issues, including health care, the economy and homeland security.
Sixty-three percent characterized US-Israel relations as “somewhat positive,' while 10% said they were “very positive.'
Fifty-five percent of respondents approved of the Obama administrations handling of US-Israel relations, compared to 54% who approved last year. Some 57% of respondents approved of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahus handling of the relationship, and 30% disapproved.
On a main point of contention between the two governments – the future of Israeli settlements – 8% of American Jews surveyed said “all' and 56% said “some' settlements should be dismantled as part of an agreement with the Palestinians.
| Even Netanyahu is willing to give up "some" settlements as part of an agreement with the Palestinians, just not the ones in Jerusalem, and not unilaterally. |
Thirty-four percent said none should be removed.
The survey clearly depicted a strong bond with Israel felt by American Jews. Thirty percent of respondents said they feel “very close,' while 44% said they feel “fairly close.'
Orthodox Jews expressed stronger levels of identification, with 77% saying they were “very close' to Israel. Younger Jews also eclipsed older counterparts in this regard: 40% of Jews under 40 feel “very close' to Israel, compared to 24% of Jews between 40 and 59.
| That bit is actually quite important for long term. |
When it came to the peace process, the survey found the vast majority of American Jews, 94%, want the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state in any agreement; 61% support an undivided Jerusalem as Israels capital.
Respondents were split regarding a Palestinian state – 48% favor one and 45 oppose this – but 80% said Israel cannot make peace with a Hamas-led government. The survey showed deep suspicion of Arab intentions, with 75% saying the goal of Arabs is the destruction of Israel.
The concern extended to anti-Semitism in the Muslim world and beyond. A full 98% said anti-Semitism is a problem in the Muslim world, including 87% who said it was a “very serious' problem. Ninety-five percent said it was a problem in Europe; 91% said it was a problem in the US, including 25% who said it was a “very serious' problem and 66% who said it was “somewhat of a problem.'
| It is somewhat of a problem if one moves in liberal circles or knows anyone going to college. "Very serious" is what the former Jews of Malmo experienced. |
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