National Survey of American Jews July 2011
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Survey Overview
1
• National survey of 800 American Jews, ages 18 and over
• Conducted July 7-12, 2011
• Survey conducted with a web-based panel of 900,000 Americans, and administered by email invitation; respondents re-screened as Jewish in order to be eligible for the survey
• Demographic and political measures consistent the most recent Gallup and American Jewish Committee surveys conducted with American Jews over the past year
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Key Findings
• President Obama retains very strong standing with American Jews – High job approval, large leads over Romney and Bachmann in 2012 vote – Most ‘08 Obama (and McCain) contributors plan to contribute again – Intense opposition to Glenn Beck, Tea Party Movement, and Republican Party
• Jewish support for US leadership in Middle East continues – Large majority seeks active US role to resolve Arab-Israeli conflict – Broad support for detailed comprehensive peace agreement
• Mixed views toward the UN – Jews think UN is important, but not doing a good job – Younger Jews believe UN treats Israel fairly; older Jews believe UN treats unfairly – Nearly half oppose US voting to recognize Palestinian statehood, while one-third support
it; large bloc remains undecided
• Overwhelming support for allowing Jewish organizations that criticize Israeli policy to participate in Jewish community events
– Support spans synagogue membership and denomination
2
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Election 2012
3
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
2012 Vote – Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney
63
24
13
0
20
40
60
80
100
Obama Romney Undecided
Vote
4
70
27
4 0
20
40
60
80
100
Obama Romney Undecided
Simulated Vote
+39 +43
(Allocating undecided voters by party identification)
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
2012 Vote – Barack Obama vs. Michele Bachmann
67
19 13
0
20
40
60
80
100
Obama Bachmann Undecided
Vote
5
73
23
4 0
20
40
60
80
100
Obama Bachmann Undecided
Simulated Vote
+48 +50
(Allocating undecided voters by party identification)
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Current Presidential Vote and Pre-2008 Vote
62 63 67
32
24 19
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Obama vs. McCain Vote (July 2008)
Obama vs. Romney Vote (July 2011)
Obama vs. Bachmann Vote (July 2011)
Democratic Vote Republican Vote
6
+30 +39 +48
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Donors Contributed to Obama Over McCain 4-to-1
81
16
4 0
20
40
60
80
Did Not Contribute Contributed to Obama's Campaign
Contributed to McCain's Campaign
In the 2008 Presidential election, did you make a financial contribution to the campaign of Barack Obama or the campaign of John McCain?
7
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
High and Comparable Level of Return Donors for Obama and Republicans
82 80
0
20
40
60
80
100
Definitely/Probably/Already Have Contributed to Obama's Campaign
Definitely/Probably/Already Have Contributed to a Republican's Campaign
Thinking about the 2012 Presidential election, will you make a financial contribution to… Barack Obama's campaign? (Among those who contributed to Obama’s campaign) a Republican candidate's campaign? (Among those who contributed to McCain’s campaign)
8
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews Figure
President Obama’s Standing
9
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Obama’s Job Approval Rating Remarkably Steady
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?
10
62 60 60 60
38 40 32
40
0
20
40
60
80
March 2010 November 2010 June 2011 (Gallup Monthly
Average)
July 2011
Approve Dissapprove
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Obama’s Job Approval Far Exceeds Congress
60
40
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Approve Dissapprove
Obama Approval
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as
president?
11
27
73
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Approve Dissapprove
Congress Approval
Do you approve or disapprove of the job Congress is doing?
-46 +20
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Obama’s Job Approval on Key Issues
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling…
12
60
40
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Approve Dissapprove
His Job As President
51 49
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Approve Dissapprove
The Economy
44
56
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Approve Dissapprove
The Arab-Israeli Conflict
+20 +3 -12
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Perceptions of Country’s Direction Worsen
10
36
54
41 44
34
90
64
46
59 56
66
0
20
40
60
80
100
July-08 January-09 July-09 January-10 July-10 January-11 July-11
Right Direction Wrong Track
Generally speaking, do you think that things in this country are going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
13
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Democrats, Netanyahu Viewed Favorably; Republicans, Conservatives Viewed Poorly
66 56
50 49
18 16 16 12 12 10
-22 -34
-20
-33
-67 -73
-60 -57
-74 -66
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
80
The Republican
Party
George W.
Bush
Mitt Romney
Michele Bachmann
The Tea Party
Movement
Glenn Beck
Favorable Unfavorable
14
Bill Clinton
Barack Obama
Benjamin Netanyahu
The Democratic
Party
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
U.S. Role in the Middle East
15
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Wide Support for U.S. Involvement in the Arab-Israeli Conflict
31
83
4
17
0
20
40
60
80
100
Support Oppose
Strongly Somewhat Strongly Somewhat
Do you support or oppose the United States playing an active role in helping the parties to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict?
16
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
31
83
4
17
0
20
40
60
80
100
Support Oppose
Strongly Somewhat Strongly Somewhat
25
67
7
33
0
20
40
60
80
100
Support Oppose
With Both the Israelis and the Arabs
15
44
15
56
0
20
40
60
80
100
Support Oppose
With Israel
Singling Out Israel Causes Major Decline in Support for US Playing Active Role
Would you support or oppose the United States playing an active role in helping the parties to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict if it meant the United States publicly stating its disagreements…
17
+34 -12
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Support for U.S. Role that Proposes Peace Plan
21
70
9
30
0
20
40
60
80
100
Support Oppose
Strongly Somewhat Strongly Somewhat
Would you support or oppose the United States playing an active role in helping the parties to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict if it meant the United States putting forth a peace plan that proposes borders and security arrangements between Israelis and Palestinians?
18
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Majority Support Comprehensive Peace Agreement
13
57
16
43
0
20
40
60
80
100
Support Oppose
Strongly Somewhat Strongly Somewhat
As you may know, on a few occasions during the past 10 years, Israeli, Palestinian, and American negotiators came close to reaching a final status peace agreement but ultimately fell short. The details of that agreement include:
19
• A demilitarized Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza
• Internationally recognized borders based on the borders that existed in 1967, with mutually agreed land swaps that allow 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 GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews Figure
United Nations
20
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
25
67
14
33
0
20
40
60
80
Important Not Important
Very Somewhat Not at All Somewhat
UN Seen as Important, but not Doing a Good Job
21
Thinking about the United Nations, how good of a job do you think it does in
promoting international peace and security, developing friendly relations among
nations, and promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights?
4
28 22
72
0
20
40
60
80
Excellent/Good Job Fair/Poor Job
Excellent Good Just Fair Poor
+34
Thinking about the United Nations, how important of a role do you think it plays in
promoting international peace and security, developing friendly relations among
nations, and promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights?
-44
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Mixed Views on the United Nations Overall; Majority See UN Treating Israel Unfairly
22
Thinking about Israel and the United Nations, overall do you think the United Nations treats Israel fairly or unfairly?
6
43
25
57
0
20
40
60
80
Fairly Unfairly
Very Somewhat Very Somewhat
37
-40
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
80
United Nations Favorability
Favorable Unfavorable
-3 -14
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Attitudes toward US Vote on Palestinian Statehood
34
47
18
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Vote For Vote Against Undecided
As you may know, Palestinian leaders have said that they will ask the United Nations this September to recognize an independent Palestinian state. If such a vote takes place, do you think the United States should vote for or against recognizing an independent Palestinian state?
23
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
41
31
39
51
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Under 40 40 and Over
Vote For Vote Against
UN and Palestinian Statehood: Major Differences by Age
24
Do you think the United States should vote for or against recognizing an independent
Palestinian state?
+3
Thinking about Israel and the United Nations, overall do you think the United Nations treats Israel fairly or unfairly?
+10
55
38 45
62
0
20
40
60
80
Under 40 40 and Over
Fairly Unfairly
-24 -20
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
J Street and the Jewish Community
25
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Debate over who Belongs in the Jewish Tent: Organizations that Criticize Israeli Policy
79
21
0
20
40
60
80
100
Should Allow Should Not Allow
Do you think Jewish community organizations such as local Jewish Federations and JCCs should allow or not allow Jewish organizations that publicly criticize some Israeli government policies to participate in events sponsored by Jewish community organizations?
26
+58
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Debate over who Belongs in the Jewish Tent: Arguments for and Against J Street
77
23
0
20
40
60
80
100
Should Allow Should Not Allow
As you may know, there is a Jewish organization called J Street which calls itself the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans.
J Street supports Israel and its right to defend itself, and believes that it is acceptable to criticize some Israeli government policies, such as expansion of Jewish settlement in the West Bank.
Opponents of J Street say that an organization which criticizes Israeli policy undermines Israeli security, and that just calling itself pro-Israel does not make J Street pro-Israel.
Do you think Jewish community organizations such as local Jewish Federations and JCCs should allow or not allow J Street to participate in events sponsored by Jewish community organizations?
27
+54
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Debate over who Belongs in the Jewish Tent: Consistent Results by Synagogue Membership
As you may know, there is a Jewish organization called J Street which calls itself the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans.
J Street supports Israel and its right to defend itself, and believes that it is acceptable to criticize some Israeli government policies, such as expansion of Jewish settlement in the West Bank.
Opponents of J Street say that an organization which criticizes Israeli policy undermines Israeli security, and that just calling itself pro-Israel does not make J Street pro-Israel.
Do you think Jewish community organizations such as local Jewish Federations and JCCs should allow or not allow J Street to participate in events sponsored by Jewish community organizations?
28
74 79
26 21
0
20
40
60
80
100
Belong to a Synagogue
Do Not Belong to a Synagogue
Should Allow Should Not Allow
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews Figure
Flotilla Debate
29
Figure GBA Strategies – National Survey of American Jews
Freedom Rides vs. Security Debate
22 78
-80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80
Allow the flotilla to reach Gaza Prevent the flotilla from reaching Gaza
As you may know, there have been flotillas organized to disrupt Israel's blockade of the Gaza port and bring different materials to Palestinians living in Gaza. Do you think Israel should allow the flotilla to reach Gaza or do you think Israel should prevent the flotilla from reaching Gaza?
30
The Israeli government says its blockade of Gaza is legal and justified by security concerns, primarily stopping Hamas from smuggling
rockets and weapons into Gaza from Iran. It says the flotilla must be stopped, and that the boats'
food, medicine and other aid will be delivered to Gaza if it is first brought to an Israeli port for
security inspection.
The flotilla supporters say their work is the modern-day equivalent of the Freedom Rides in the South in the 1960s, exposing the injustice and suffering imposed by Israel on Palestinians living in Gaza. They say that Israel's blockade is illegal and that only international pressure like these flotillas will force Israel to improve life for ordinary Palestinians in Gaza.
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