This is interesting. Pat Caddell lately published a poll of American Jewish attitudes that suggests that while foreign policy is not their first concern politically, they are very conservative on Israel/Palestine. Then liberal bloggers at the Washington Post sandbagged the poll’s methodology, as Commentary reports, because the poll sure seems sloppy, also the liberals don’t want to believe that Jews are abandoning Obama:
The poll — which found that only 42 percent of Jewish Americans would vote for Obama in 2012 – stirred controversy because it was released at a time when Obama has been trying to downplay the perception he’s losing Jewish support….
[one] major criticism [is that the poll] allegedly had a skewed sample…. only 65 percent of their poll respondents said they voted for Obama in 2008, which conflicts with the exit polling data claiming 79 percent of Jews voted for him. Caddell said the sample’s demographics were solid, but it’s common for many people not to admit voting for a president when he becomes less popular.
I am with Commentary on this one. I think American Jews are very conservative on Israel/Palestine stuff. We can differ on how conservative– an earlier poll said that 58 percent were against dividing Jerusalem, this one says 73 percent– but intolerance is intolerance; and again I say, the lack of a Palestinian state, 63 years after it was promised to ’em, is an American Jewish achievement.
From the poll:
A.An overwhelming majority (81% to 8%) disapproves of the U.N. voting to declare a Palestinian state that refuses to renounce terrorists and is linked to terrorist organizations. [i.e., they’re against Hamas-Fatah reconciliation].
B.Four in five (81%) are against Israel being forced to return to its pre-1967 borders, which were susceptible to attack.
C.Nearly three-quarters (73%) believe Jerusalem should remain the undivided capital of Israel. Only 8% thinks the United States should force Israel to give parts of Jerusalem, including Christian and Jewish holy sites, to the Palestinian Authority.
D.Two-thirds (64%) think that if the Palestinian Authority were given their own state in the West Bank, part of Jerusalem, and Gaza, they would continue their campaign of terror to destroy Israel. Only 16% thinks they would live peacefully with Israel.
E. An overwhelming majority (88% to 5) agrees with the position that before the Palestinian Authority is given their own country, they must first recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.
F.American Jewish voters are strongly favorable to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (65% favorable to 20% unfavorable).
