national survey of american jews march 2009. figure 1 j street national survey of american jews key...
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National survey of American JewsMarch 2009
Figure 2J Street National Survey of American Jews
Key Findings
• American Jews overwhelmingly support President Obama and
approve of his approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict
• Fundamental attitudes about the conflict and America’s role in the Middle East remain unchanged from J Street’s national survey conducted eight months ago
• Jews have deep concerns about Avigdor Lieberman and settlements
• Jews hold complex attitudes toward the recent military action in Gaza: strong approval for Israel during time of war, but strongly question the effectiveness and don’t think it made Israel more secure
• Support for US engagement with a potential Palestinian unity government is strong
Figure 3
Political Landscape
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 4
74
23
0
20
40
60
80
100
Favorable Unfavorable
Obama Extraordinarily Well-Liked
J Street National Survey of American Jews
`
+51
Figure 5
5038
2618 22
16
0
20
40
60
80
100
Strongly approve Somewhat approve Strongly disapprove Somewhat disapprove
Strong Approval for Obama’s Job Performance
73
27
Handling his job as President
Handling the Economy Handling the Arab-Israeli Conflict
+46 +42 +44
J Street National Survey of American Jews
71
29
72
28
Figure 6
23
27
35
41
46
57
60
20
0 20 40 60 80 100
Has the wrong national security policies
Too liberal
Has a good vision for advancing Middle East peace
Supports Israel
Has good plans for the economy
Shares my values
Honest and trustworthy
Restoring America's standing in the world
% Very well % Well
Obama Viewed Positively Across a Variety of Measures
78
76
73
73
76
40
34
69
Figure 7
70
42
26 26
0
20
40
60
80
100
Favorable Unfavorable
Clinton and Mitchell Highly Favorable
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Hillary Clinton George Mitchell
+44 +16
Figure 8
Conservative Critics Have No Standing with American Jews
23
73 73 72
2322
0
20
40
60
80
100
Favorable Unfavorable
Favorable - Unfavorable-51 -50 -49
Rush Limbaugh Sarah Palin Republican Party
Figure 9
Stability on Key Measures
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 10
48 52
5 30
20
40
60
80
100
Strongly support Somewhat support Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose
Support for Active American Role Stable and Strong
87
13
“Do you support or oppose the United States playing an active role in helping the parties to resolve the
Arab-Israeli conflict?”
+74 +76
J Street National Survey of American Jews
July 2008 March 2009
88
12
Figure 11
Support Remains Strong Despite Public Disagreement or
Pressure
8876 70 72
13 1225 24 30 28
7587
0
20
40
60
80
100
Support Oppose
Support - Oppose +76 +50 +52 +44+40 +74
U.S. playing an active role
U.S. publicly disagreeing with both sides
U.S. exerting pressure on both sides
July 2008 March 2009 July 2008 March 2009 July 2008 March 2009
Figure 12
28 31
15 18
0
20
40
60
1st Statement Strongly 1st Statement Somewhat 2nd Statement Strongly 2nd Statement Somewhat
Middle East Peace Still Seen as Core American Interest
55
30
+25 +19
J Street National Survey of American Jews
July 2008 March 2009
51
32
Middle East peace is a core American interest, and the United States should use assertive diplomacy to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
OR
Only the parties themselves can make peace, and the United States should let the Palestinians and Israelis work the conflict out on their own
Figure 13
28 3036 37
0
20
40
60
1st Statement Strongly 1st Statement Somewhat 2nd Statement Strongly 2nd Statement Somewhat
Peace Agreement Still Trumps Military Superiority
34
50
+16 +13
J Street National Survey of American Jews
July 2008 March 2009
36
49
Israel cannot rely on peace agreements with its enemies to provide security, and in the long run, Israel can only achieve real security by maintaining its military superiority.
OR
Israel must always maintain its strong military, but in the long run, Israel can only achieve real security through peace agreements that end conflicts and establish internationally recognized
borders.
Figure 14
37
15
0
20
40
60
80
Prefer 1st Statement Strongly Prefer 1st Statement SomewhatPrefer 2nd Statement Strongly Prefer 2nd Statement Somewhat
57
25
The new United States envoy to the Middle East, former Senator George Mitchell, should side
with Israel during peace negotiations in order to protect America's democratic ally Israel.
The new United States envoy to the Middle East, former Senator George Mitchell, should act
as a fair and impartial broker in order to achieve a peace agreement between Israelis
and Palestinians.
Jews Seek Even-Handedness in Mitchell Effort
J Street National Survey of American Jews
+32
Figure 15
Gaza
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 16
47
90
20
40
60
80
100
Strongly approve Somewhat approve Strongly disapprove Somewhat disapprove
75
25
“Do you approve or disapprove of the recent military action that Israel took in Gaza?”
Jews Rally Behind Israel During War
+50
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 17
18
41 41 More secureLess secureNo Impact
Little Support for Connor…But Jews Don’t Think Gaza War Helped Israel
“Regardless of whether you approve or disapprove of the recent military action that Israel took in Gaza, do you think it made Israel more secure, less secure,
or had no impact on Israel's security?”
Figure 18
Concerns Toward Gaza Remain Constant
J Street National Survey of American Jews
17
3222 19 18 17
23 26
0
20
40
60
80
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree
54 56
July 2008 March 2009
61 65
Israeli military actions that target terrorists, but kill Palestinian civilians create more
terrorism instead of preventing terrorism.
July 2008 March 2009
Israel has the right to defend itself, but it must also take into account humanitarian considerations and avoid collective punishment of the entire Palestinian
population by closing the borders and causing major civilian hardship.
45 44 39 35
+9 +12 +22 +30
Figure 19
Iran
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 20
25 2228 23
0
20
40
60
1st Statement Strongly 1st Statement Somewhat 2nd Statement Strongly 2nd Statement Somewhat
Ambivalence on How to Deal with Iran
39 37
+2 +1
J Street National Survey of American Jews
41 40
The best way to deal with Iran is through
direct negotiations that provide strong
incentives for them to abandon the
development of nuclear weapons.
The best way to deal with Iran is
through international
sanctions that force Iran to choose
between nuclear weapons and international
isolation.
America should not attack Iran with
military force if they are on the verge of developing nuclear
weapons.
America should attack Iran with
military force if they are on the verge of developing nuclear
weapons.
Figure 21
Palestinian Unity Government
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 22
2816
0
20
40
60
80
100
Strongly support Somewhat support Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose
69
31
“As you may know, the Palestinian Authority is the Palestinian government in the West Bank and has been engaged in peace talks with the Israeli government. Hamas is the Palestinian government in Gaza and is not recognized by the United States because of its terrorism and refusal to recognize
Israel. Currently, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority are negotiating to become a unified Palestinian government. If they reach an agreement, would you support or oppose the United
States working with that unity government to achieve a peace agreement with Israel?”
Strong Support for U.S. to Work with Palestinian Unity Government to Reach
Peace
+38
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 23
Final Status Agreement
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 24
Final Status Proposal
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Eight years ago, Israeli, Palestinian, and American negotiators came very close to reaching a final status peace agreement, but ultimately fell short. The details of that agreement include: • a demilitarized Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza• internationally recognized borders that include some land swaps
allowing for most Jewish settlers in the West Bank to be inside Israel while the Palestinians get comparable land areas in return
• Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem become part of the new Palestinian state while Israel retains control of Jewish neighborhoods and the Western Wall in Jerusalem
• international forces to monitor the new Palestinian state and border crossings
• financial compensation for Palestinian refugees while allowing some refugees to return to Israel if they meet specific family reunification criteria and the Israeli government approves
Figure 25
33
110
20
40
60
80
100
Strongly support Somewhat support Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose
76
24
Final Status Proposal Receives Strong Support
+52
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 26
Settlements
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 27
14
28
0
20
40
60
80
Strongly support Somewhat Support Strongly Oppose Somewhat Oppose
Strong Opposition to Settlements
40
-20
J Street National Survey of American Jews
60
“From what you know about Israeli settlements in the West Bank, do you support or oppose expanding these settlements?”
Figure 28
1428
0
20
40
60
80
Strongly support Somewhat Support Strongly Oppose Somewhat Oppose
Opposition to Settlements Unchanged after Statements
40
-20
J Street National Survey of American Jews
60
Supporters of expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank say this is the biblical Land of Israel, Jews have the right to live there, and settlement expansion is necessary to accommodate
natural growth.
Opponents of expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank say the settlements break agreements with the United States, violate international law, and prevent Arab-Israeli peace because they establish Israeli population centers in the middle of a future Palestinian state.
Figure 29
11
45
0
20
40
60
80
100
Strongly support Somewhat support Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose
28
72
“From what you know about Israeli settlements in the West Bank, do you support or oppose expanding these settlements?”
Nearly Three-Quarters of Jewish Political Donors Oppose
Settlements+44
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 30
Avigdor Lieberman
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 31
8
42
0
20
40
60
80
100
Strongly support Somewhat support Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose
31
69
“As you may know, Israel had an election earlier this month. The party receiving the third largest number of seats is led by Avigdor Lieberman who has previously called for the execution of
Arab members of Israel's parliament who met with Hamas and whose main campaign message called for Arab citizens of Israel to sign a loyalty oath to the Jewish state in order
to prevent their citizenship from being revoked. Do you support or oppose these positions?”
Strong Opposition to Lieberman Views
-38
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 32
32
58
100
20
40
60
Strengthens my supportfor Israel against the
international criticism thatwill follow his cabinet
appointment
Weakens my personalconnection to Israel
because Lieberman'spositions go against my
core values
Has no impact on myfeelings toward Israel
Little Support for Connor…One-in-Three Would Feel Weaker Ties to Israel if Lieberman
Appointed to Cabinet
“If Avigdor Lieberman becomes a senior member of the Israeli cabinet and refuses to change his positions on Arab citizens of Israel, how would this affect your feelings toward Israel?”
Figure 33
40
56
40
20
40
60
Strengthens my support forIsrael against the
international criticism thatwill follow his cabinet
appointment
Weakens my personalconnection to Israel
because Lieberman'spositions go against my
core values
Has no impact on myfeelings toward Israel
Little Support for Connor…Opposition to Lieberman Among Jews Under 30
“If Avigdor Lieberman becomes a senior member of the Israeli cabinet and refuses to change his positions on Arab citizens of Israel, how would this affect your feelings toward Israel?”
Figure 34
Economic Impact on Charitable Giving
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 35
21
35
37
42
39
0 10 20 30 40 50
I have not and will not reduce my contributions toorganizations and political campaigns
I have reduced or will reduce my contributions tosynagogues or temples
I have reduced or will reduce my contributions toJewish organizations and charities
I have reduced or will reduce my contributions topolitical campaigns
I have reduced or will reduce my contributions tonon-Jewish organizations and charities
Nearly Two-Thirds Have Reduced Charitable Contributions
Figure 36
Bernard Madoff Impact
J Street National Survey of American Jews
Figure 37
Impact of Madoff Scandal
55281726
17
2855
6 2
Yes, I have been personallyaffected
Yes, someone I know has beenaffected
Yes, an organization that Isupport has been affected
No, I have not been affectednor has any person I know ororganization I support
I do not know about the Madoffscandal
39% Total Affected