American Attitudes Toward Israel

Publication Date: November 2002

Publisher: Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies

Author(s): Benjamin Phillips; Eszter Lengyel; Leonard Saxe

Research Area: Politics

Keywords: Israel Attachment; Diaspora Relations; Political Behavior

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

This paper reviews the existing data on Jewish-American views of Israel, focusing on the quality of the data and examining the current and historical importance of Israel to Jewish-Americans. It also examines the limited systematic data on attitudes of Jewish college students to Israel. The findings of these surveys indicate, overall, moderately high levels of support and sympathy for Israel. Findings also indicate that support may be relatively shallow and affected by specific world events. Thus, while Jewish-Americans evidence care and concern about Israel, the more specific the issue, the less likely support will be positive.