Posted on 8/21/2002, 10:39:01 PM by scratchgolfer
Survey: US college students favor Israel over Palestinians
By MELISSA RADLER
NEW YORK Israel enjoys four times more support than the Palestinians among US college students, according to a new survey released by the American Jewish Committee.
The survey, which was conducted by pollster Stanley Greenberg in July, found that 43 percent of college students support Israel, 11% back the Palestinians, and 29% support neither side in the current conflict a finding that mirrors recent surveys among the general population.
After two years of highly publicized pro-Palestinian activity at colleges, the survey should also help put to rest concerns that campuses have become hotbeds of anti-Israel activity, said AJC executive director David Harris.
The survey found that while half the respondents said they support establishing a Palestinian state at the present time and 31% said they oppose its establishment, 89% said the final goal in the region must be two states living side by side in peace.
Asked why the US supports Israel, 28% said the primary reason is that Israel is an ally of the US, 19% attributed the support to Israel's fight against terrorism, and 10% said the reason is Israel's status as the region's sole democracy. Some 21% said the support stems from Israel's "powerful Jewish supporters" in the US. In addition, 26% said they agree with the statement that "Israel's Jewish supporters control the American media," and the same number attributed their support for Israel to the teachings of the Christian Bible.
When asked to rate statements describing Israel, 44% termed it "an obstacle to peace," 39% said Israel is "illegally occupying Palestinian land," and 35% said Israel's "Jewish allies in the United States have too much influence over US foreign policy."
At the same time, 59% said Israel is "fighting terrorists just like we are," and 68% said the country is "only trying to protect its citizens." Fifty-five percent said the US should respond with military force if Israel is attacked by an Arab country.
While students object to Israel's actions and sympathize with the Palestinians, they generally disagree with the Palestinians' tactics, according to the survey. Thirty-seven percent said Israel has the moral high ground in the conflict, compared to 7% who said the Palestinians are morally right, and 49% said Israel wants peace, compared to 5% of students who said the Palestinians are seeking peace.
In another finding, the vast majority of college students said they rely on TV for their news coverage, and just one third said they read a major daily newspaper or weekly news magazine.
That finding, said Harris, "shows that many students are not fully informed on the conflict and about Israel. It is critically important to educate students regarding the true democratic nature of Israel."
Of the survey's 300 respondents, 79% identified themselves as white, 5% as black, and 3% as Hispanic. Just 2% of the respondents identified themselves as Ivy League students one of the most vocally anti-Israel segments in the university system and another 8% declined to designate their college. The survey's margin of error is 4.9%.
I don't think so! Support for Israel is way more than 43% in the general population.
Time to send these kids to marxist multiculturalist re-education camp.
Not to mention that the segment of our population surveyed, college students, are among the least likely to derive opinions based on reasoned analysis.
What else do you suppose 43% of college students support? Free drugs? Homosexuals in the Military? No more internal combustion engines? Etc.
Just a little. I'd like to see how many of them could identify Israel on a map.
I disagree, campuses are hotbeds of anti-Israel, and anti-Americanism. A good number of students reject it though and just sail through the propaganda and nail their diplomas.
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