B’nai B’rith International has just published a survey of Israeli Jewish attitudes to relations with Diaspora. Much of it is solid, and I’m writing up a brief.*
The first question is so loaded, it calls out for the perspicacious attentions of my friend Shmuel Rosner, who’s proven himself adept at dismantling this nonsense:
Do you think the possibility of being accused of dual loyalty discourages American Jews from criticizing the Obama Administration’s policy towards Israel?
A plurality — 46 percent — agree. Thirty-six percent disagree, and 18 percent think it’s the dumbest question ever, don’t know or refuse to answer.
I’m surprised that such a loaded question scored a mere plurality — that speaks to Israelis’ ability not to be played for suckers.
Here’s one way the question could be phrased: Polls have shown that majorities or pluralities of American Jews agree with the Obama administration’s Israel policies. Why do you believe this is so?
The survey taker listens, and then slots the answer into one of several possible categories. That list might look like this:
a) Because American Jews agree with his policies.
b) Because American Jews are not sufficiently aware of his policies.
c) Because Israel is not a priority for American Jews.
d) Because American Jews fear accusations of dual loyalties.
Etc.
WASHINGTON (JTA) — More than half of Israeli Jews believe that the term "pro-Israel" should apply only to Jewish groups that back the policies of the current Israeli government, a poll showed.
Asked to choose between one of two statements, 54 percent of respondents — statistically half — said that "Jewish organizations that advocate before foreign governments and identify themselves as pro-Israel should always support the policies of the current Israeli government," according to the survey published Tuesday.
Twenty-eight percent of respondents agreed with the other statement, that such organizations should "be free to openly oppose the policies of the current Israeli government."
A large majority, 65 percent to 12 percent, agreed that "American Jews should criticize President Obama’s policy towards Israel" as opposed to supporting it.
The survey, commissioned by B’nai B’rith’s Jerusalem-based World Center and carried out by Keevoon, reached 500 Jewish adult Israelis June 1-4. The margin of error was 4.5 percent.
The poll also found that a majority — 55 percent to 36 percent — agreed that a two-state solution is "essential to Israel’s survival as a national home of the Jewish people as a vibrant democracy." A plurality, 48 percent to 41 percent, agreed that "it is essential that the European Union, along with the United States, put pressure on both parties and help them achieve a reasonable and rapid solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Both statements were drawn from the manifesto of JCall, a new European pro-Israel group that presses for a two-state solution and rejects hewing only to the current Israeli government line.
A plurality — 49 percent to 37 percent — disagreed, however, with JCall’s statement that the settlements pose a "danger" to Israel and are "morally and politically wrong."
A plurality, 47 percent to 34 percent, also disagreed with Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky’s plan to switch the agency’s emphasis from aliyah to building Jewish identity in the Diaspora.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
