For immediate release
Media contact: Amy Shargel, Middle East Forum
Philadelphia, Pa., -- As U.S. President Bill Clinton prepares to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Washington on January 20, a substantial majority of American Jewish voters oppose Clinton’s tough new confrontational approach to Israel.
A poll of 600 registered American Jewish voters, commissioned by the Middle East Quarterly and carried out by John McLaughlin & Associates, found that by a nearly 3-1 ratio American Jews want Israelis to reach their own conclusions about relations with the Palestinians, and not follow orders from the United States.
Moreover, the poll found that in going head-to-head with Israel’s prime minister, Clinton risks alienating the majority of Jews who are either Conservative or Orthodox. Conservative Jews trust Netanyahu somewhat more than Clinton (43 to 29 percent). Orthodox Jews trust Netanyahu far more than Clinton (55 to 20 percent). (The results had an accuracy of 4 percent at the 95 percent confidence level).
The poll posed 75 questions on the U.S.-Israeli relationship, the Israeli and Palestinian peace process, and other related topics to a random mix of voters on January 5-7.
Other results:
- While American Jews generally have a favorable opinion of Clinton (65 to 23 percent), they are less pleased with his handling of American’s relationship with Israel. Only 50 percent rated his performance excellent or good, and 49 percent rated him fair or poor.
- By 66 to 19 percent, American Jews said that Clinton should not have refused to meet Netanyahu the last time he was in the United States.
- By 39 to 31 percent, America Jews more often agree with Netanyahu rather than Clinton on questions about Israel.
- By 73 to 23 percent, American Jews agree with Netanyahu that terrorism in Israel and the Middle East must end before peace negotiations continue.
For more information: http://www.mclaughlinandassoc.com
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