The Jewish People Policy Institute analysis of the sentiment of some 600 Jews shows that most are following the events of the war closely, feel immense anger and anxiety for Israel’s safety and security, and believe that Israel is waging a more “moral” war than other countries.
Against the backdrop of Operation Iron Swords, most American Jews are displaying overwhelming support of Israel. So indicated in a new survey from the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), presented to the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and to be shown to the IDF General Staff Forum.
According to the poll, carried out among 600 American Jews, most are following the events of the war closely, feel immense anger and anxiety for Israel’s safety and security, and believe that Israel is waging a more “moral” war than are other countries.
Some 60% of the survey participants expressed anger and anxiety about the war and around 80% displayed active support of Israel in various ways, such as making donations and manifesting their support in public. In this context, there is a major difference between Jews who have visited or lived in Israel, who have a very high rate of active support (nearly 90%) and those who visited only once (80% or so), and those who have never visited, whose rate of active support is lower (59%).
In one impact of the war on American Jewry, more than 70% of the participants reported a decline in their sense of security although this did not weaken their personal bond with Israel. Those who feel more distant from Israel believe that the war is having an adverse effect on their security.
The JPPI admits that the survey does not offer the possibility of generating representative weighted data for all of American Jewry. Nevertheless, the sample is large enough and diverse enough to identify trends, significant stances, and also gaps among various groups of Jews on the basis of their religious affiliation, closeness to Israel, political stance, connection with Judaism, and other parameters.
Published on Israel Hayom by By Hanan Greenwood