US Jews back Palestine state

Herald Sun ^ | 11/12/01

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NEW YORK: Almost 60 per cent of American Jews support a Palestinian state and believe that reducing Middle East violence will maintain global support for the US war on terrorism, according to an opinion poll.

The survey of 602 Jews sponsored by several think-tanks, including the Israel Policy Forum, also found that 85 per cent believe it is important for Washington to take an active role in trying to end the violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Nearly three-quarters said the United States should become actively involved in the peace process even if this led to disagreements with Israel.

More than two-thirds back the use of a US-led observer force in the Middle East to help keep down violence. The Palestinians have repeatedly sought an international observer force in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza.

But the United States, Israel's closest ally, has blocked action on the plan in the UN Security Council. Israel strongly opposes international monitors.

According to the survey, 57 per cent of US Jews backed a Palestinian state and thought reducing the level of Middle East violence would help Washington's campaign against terrorism, launched after September 11 attacks on the United States.

The survey of 602 people was the most extensive national poll of American Jews conducted since the September 11 terrorist attacks, according to its sponsors, the Israel Policy Forum, the New York Jewish Week and the Wilstein Institute of Jewish Policy Studies.

The poll, which had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points, was carried out last week and released hours after US President George W Bush endorsed a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"The American government stands by its commitment to a just peace in the Middle East," Bush told the UN General Assembly.

"We are working toward the day when two states – Israel and Palestine – live peacefully together within secure and recognised borders, as called for by the Security Council resolutions."

At least 701 Palestinians and 187 Israelis have been killed since September 2000, when Palestinians rose up against Israeli occupation after Mideast peace talks became stalled.

"The last time President Bush announced that, in principle, he favoured a Palestinian state alongside Israel, there was a lot of vocal opposition and concern," said Jonathan Jacoby of the New York-based Israel Policy Forum.

"This poll shows not only that the American Jewish community would endorse such a state and supports the president, it also understands that after September 11, continued Israeli-Palestinian conflict makes the campaign against global terror more difficult," Jacoby said in a statement.

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FYI.

[tomakaze]

RE:Almost 60 per cent of American Jews support a Palestinian state

...and the other 40% are smarter than the average house pet, and in touch with reality enough to see why this is a foolish, suicidal idea for Israel.

[Michael2001]

"Almost 60 per cent of American Jews support a Palestinian state"

Almost 60 percent of American Jews are stupid. Almost 60 percent of American Jews don't follow the Torah. Almost 60 percent of American Jews aren't Jews at all. I've always preferred the Israeli Jews to our domestic ones; these wishy-washy types wouldn't last five minutes in the Middle East.

[swampfox98]

Sixty percent of the US Jews vote Democrat and love Hillary and Bill too, but that doesn't make them sane.

[Nat Turner]

becareful Mike the left might accuse you of jewish anti-semitism . . . .

[traditionalist]

A large proportion (I think it's close to half) of Israeli Jews aren't religious either, and I've seen polls where a large proportion (I can't remember if it was a majority, but it was close) favor a Palestinian state.