(Jewish Group) AJC Comparative Surveys of Israeli, U.S. Jews Show Some Serious Divisions

[Behind the Aegis]

(THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP! RESPECT!!)

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) today released its groundbreaking surveys of the attitudes of American and Israeli Jews, concluded ahead of the opening of the AJC Global Forum in Jerusalem. Many of the identical questions are used in both surveys, allowing a basis for comparison.

The surveys reveal sharp differences of opinion between the world’s two largest Jewish communities on President Trump, U.S.-Israel relations, and Israel’s security and peace process policies. On Jewish communal issues, such as Jewish religious equality in Israel, the surveys confirm fissures between American Jews and Israelis, though, at the same time, the data show a degree of commonality in opinions about the vitality of both the Diaspora and the State of Israel and their significance for the future of the Jewish people.

“Our surveys are important barometers of the perceptions and views affecting current and long-term relations between American Jews and Israelis, the two largest Jewish populations in the world,” said AJC CEO David Harris.

“Significantly, for both communities, the main factor predicting how people will respond is how they identify religiously. The more observant they are on the denominational spectrum, their Jewish identity and attachment to Israel is stronger; skepticism about prospects for peace with the Palestinians higher; and support for religious pluralism in Israel weaker,” said Harris. “In the survey of American Jews, political affiliation also plays a major role. The majority who identify with the Democratic Party and voted for Hillary Clinton are less attached to Israel, more weakly identified with the Jewish people, and more favorable to religious pluralism than the minority who are Republicans and report that they voted for Donald Trump.”

more...

This is also in LBN. I am pointing this out in case feel the need to vent their spleen in regards to Israel.

Here are the points I found most interesting...

55% report that the status of Jews in the U.S. is less secure than a year ago, while 18% say it is more secure and 24% about the same. On this question, the political divide is striking, as 70% of those who voted for Clinton, and 24% for Trump, say Jews are less secure, and those who say Jews are more secure are 8% of Clinton and 41% of Trump supporters. For 20% of Clinton and 32% of Trump supporters, the status is the same.

How do You see Israeli Jews?

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	Siblings (I am Jewish.)
	1 (50%)
	First Cousins (I am Jewish.)
	0 (0%)
	Extended Family (I am Jewish.)
	0 (0%)
	Not Part of my Family (I am Jewish.)
	1 (50%)
	No Opinion (I am Jewish.)
	0 (0%)
	Siblings (I am NOT Jewish.)
	0 (0%)
	First Cousins (I am NOT Jewish.)
	0 (0%)
	Extended Family (I am NOT Jewish.)
	0 (0%)
	Not Part of the Jewish Family (I am NOT Jewish.)
	0 (0%)
	No Opinion (I am NOT Jewish.)
	0 (0%)
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[Nitram]

1. I am shocked to see that 77% of Israelis approve of Trump.

Are they uninformed about Trump, or do they only care that he supposedly strongly supports Israel? If the latter, then they must be members of the former as well, because Trump cannot be depended upon to take a firm stance on any issue, and can revers any stance on a whim. Don't they realize Trump could very easily make things worse for Israel?

[Mosby]

3. I think the question was limited to Trump's "handling U.S.-Israel relations"

not whether they approve of his Presidency.

[Nitram]

4. Good point.

[EllieBC]

2. Israeli Jews are most definitely my extended family.

When I've been to Israel I feel at home. I don't need to defend Jewish practices or rituals. I feel welcome.

[MosheFeingold]

5. Well, they are literally my family

All but one of my brothers and sisters moved there, as did several of my children (and many of my grandchildren and great grandchildren are sabra).

To a person, they did not like Obama. The main complaint from the reasonable ones is he was seen as weak in the area. Note, being seen as weak is not the same as being weak, but seemingly weak people are bullied (even if they are not weak). To a degree this opinion is rational. The area is used to big-bully leaders. If you are not a big bully, you are seen as weak.

Obama was trying to be rational and even-tempered in a culture that speaks only in extremes.

The non-rational ones viewed him as "on the side" of Israel's enemies, particularly Iran.

Trump, they generally view as a buffoon, but a strong man with a temper and thus not to be trifled with. To a degree, this is also true. I'd be legitimately scared of Trump and would avoid sticking my head out, for fear he'd lash out irrationally.