The American public supports Israel. A poll commissioned by Jewish organizations in the U.S. shows that 4/5 of those who claim to be aware of Middle East news declare that their positions are \"close to those of Israel.\" The survey encompassed over 1,400 people, divided into four groups: the general public, American-Jews, the \"elite\" - people of high-income and high-education; and \"people of influence\" - journalists, community leaders, legislators, etc. Other findings of the poll:
* 58% of the American public believes that the Palestinians\' and Arab nation\' ultimate goal is to destroy Israel.
* 73% blame the Palestinian leadership for fanning the flames of violence.
* 51% (33% of Jews) support the division of Jerusalem.
* 67% (48% of Jews) support the formation of a Palestinian state.
* Only 33% support an Arab right of return.
* Only 7% feel that Israeli soldiers are starting the violence.
* 75% feel that Israel is serious about its intentions to reach peace; less than 50% feel that way about the Palestinian Authority.
* 65% feel that the U.S. should come to Israel\'s aid if it is attacked.
The poll also showed that Americans are not as knowledgeable about the Middle East as they might think. Most of the respondents thought that Israel is still in control of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza; only 22% of the respondents knew that Israel has turned over more than 40% of Judea and Samaria to Palestinian control. \"This poll tells me that across the board, Israel has a bedrock of support,\" said Ze\'ev Furst, president and CEO of First International Resources, one of the firms that conducted the poll. \"The American people get it to a greater degree than we\'d assumed,\" said Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
It is noteworthy, then, that today\'s Yediot Acharonot presents a much bleaker picture in an editorial appearing only a few pages before the above report:
\"IDF soldiers could shoot candies and give out daisies to car-bomb drivers - and we would still be portrayed on the world’s television screens as brutal occupiers.... We have no chance in the battle over world public opinion [because] the world at the beginning of the 21st century does not like occupiers, especially Jewish occupiers... Oh, we\'re not occupiers? We have merely returned home after 2,000 years of exile? Might as well talk to the wall.\" The editorial continues, \"Day by day, the State of Israel loses the world\'s sympathy and understanding. Every Skynews and NBC television broadcast buries us another centimeter deeper into the deep black pit of the world\'s hatred towards us...\"
* 58% of the American public believes that the Palestinians\' and Arab nation\' ultimate goal is to destroy Israel.
* 73% blame the Palestinian leadership for fanning the flames of violence.
* 51% (33% of Jews) support the division of Jerusalem.
* 67% (48% of Jews) support the formation of a Palestinian state.
* Only 33% support an Arab right of return.
* Only 7% feel that Israeli soldiers are starting the violence.
* 75% feel that Israel is serious about its intentions to reach peace; less than 50% feel that way about the Palestinian Authority.
* 65% feel that the U.S. should come to Israel\'s aid if it is attacked.
The poll also showed that Americans are not as knowledgeable about the Middle East as they might think. Most of the respondents thought that Israel is still in control of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza; only 22% of the respondents knew that Israel has turned over more than 40% of Judea and Samaria to Palestinian control. \"This poll tells me that across the board, Israel has a bedrock of support,\" said Ze\'ev Furst, president and CEO of First International Resources, one of the firms that conducted the poll. \"The American people get it to a greater degree than we\'d assumed,\" said Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
It is noteworthy, then, that today\'s Yediot Acharonot presents a much bleaker picture in an editorial appearing only a few pages before the above report:
\"IDF soldiers could shoot candies and give out daisies to car-bomb drivers - and we would still be portrayed on the world’s television screens as brutal occupiers.... We have no chance in the battle over world public opinion [because] the world at the beginning of the 21st century does not like occupiers, especially Jewish occupiers... Oh, we\'re not occupiers? We have merely returned home after 2,000 years of exile? Might as well talk to the wall.\" The editorial continues, \"Day by day, the State of Israel loses the world\'s sympathy and understanding. Every Skynews and NBC television broadcast buries us another centimeter deeper into the deep black pit of the world\'s hatred towards us...\"