|
Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Rosner's Domain: Do Americans support the war in Gaza?Posted by SHMUEL ROSNER
Comments: 148      Updated Jan. 13!!! Election 2009: Rosner's Poll Trend Do Americans support the Gaza op? A new survey conducted by the regular heavy weights employed by The Israel Project (Stan Greenberg, Neil Newhouse) found that Americans continue supporting Israel in the fight against Palestinian radicals (a new McClatchy/Ispos poll says the same): Americans blame the Palestinians for the current conflict in Gaza (56%-18%). By a wide margin (66%-17%), Americans blame "Hamas leaders who control Gaza" for the current humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Nearly half of Americans say they have seen, read or heard "a lot" about the military conflict in the Gaza Strip. Despite the ongoing operations in Gaza, Americans side with Israel over the Palestinians by a 57%-8% margin, virtually unchanged from the pre-Gaza War November 2008 polling (57%-6%). These are encouraging numbers, but they do not reveal the full picture. In the last couple of days I wrote about American public opinion and the Gaza op for Contentions. Based on three polls (Rasmussen, Gallup, PEW) I can say that generally speaking Americans do support Israel's war in Gaza. However - and these numbers do not appear in the new TIP poll - not all Americans support the war and Israel in the same way: Most Democrats recognize Hamas's responsibility for the crisis, do not seek greater U.S. involvement, support Israel in general terms, but cannot bring themselves to approve of the Gaza operation. One question naturally arises from such inconsistent attitudes: To what line of action would all those Democrats subscribe? Not diplomacy mediated by the U.S. (71% are against "more" involvement); not military action by Israel (45% disapprove, while only 29% approve). Is there any other alternative they can think of that eluded the pollsters? From both Gallup and Rasmussen we've learned that Americans do not want more US involvement in solving the crisis. And they do want a cease fire "now" (50%): Attitudes toward active engagement - and specifically, toward a cease-fire - fall largely along partisan lines, with Democrats demanding more of it on average compared to Republicans - a political divide reflected in several polls. Since liberals are generally less supportive of Israel, Gallup concludes that "it is likely that liberals favor an immediate cessation of the Gaza hostilities, even if that doesnt serve Israel's security interests." In short: they all support Israel, but Republicans and Democrats support its war in Gaza in very different ways, and not with the same intensity.
1 | Gravy Train Drying Up For Lounge Lizards et al, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
NOW LOOK HERE there is a young woman in Israel who has a 3 month old baby girl and her heroic young husband is in the Cemetery, well no, he is more likely in Heaven for he laid down his life for others, but...this is not about politics. Olmert and Barak are ex Soldiers they are not like the nancy MP's in the west who are the progeny of indifferent university lecturers and curtain makers, this conflict was unavoidable, it had to be drawn before it was started by the rest. Gaza is a big city, not just a mound of dust, no-one bothers to tell the public. Send my taxes to islamic UN - why should I
2 | Ray, Pine Mountain, California, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
I hate polls. The numbers can easily be manipulated and hand-picked. The people polled rarely are a true cross-section of the public. I see a much greater opposiiton to the Israeli attack of Gaza and Hamas by Americans than your poll suggests. In fact nearly half of my co-workers think it's appalling what's going on in Gaza. Our media here portrays Israelis near the Gaza border as living in fear of rocket attacks, yet I just saw a Youtube video of Israelis sitting in chairs on a hilltop sipping coffee while watching the bombing of Gaza from two miles away like it's a tourist attraction.
3 | R. Grillo USA, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Screw that poll. Protect your people.I am a United States Marine Corps Vetrean from the first Gilf War and the "popular" opinion is "go along-get along". This is because not enough living Americans had to fight for survival. we will fall do to stupidity on their fault. Bumber stickers save Tibet" have done wonders. Right? Rid your region of those that mean you harm and deal with the weak when the projectiles stop.
4 | Aaron, San Francisco, CA, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
In Oakland, CA, the public rhetoric of outrage behind a police shooting of an unarmed black man equates the American ghetto with the supposed plight of the Palestinians in Gaza: in short, many on the so-called left are dissociated from reality. You mistake the party cadres for mapping public opinion, when it's really just their proximity to cold facts that move their position away from their voter-base. The Republicans are simply supportive because their Christian lunatic allies seek to provoke Israel into a war of Armageddon. The poll says nothing meaningful.
5 | Dror, haifa, Israel, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
America's enemies have found America's greatest weaknesses. The petrodollar scam as well as the incomprehensible debt America has accrued. Perpetual wars will not keep America from collapsing. Eventually nations will start dumping the dollar and then America is finished. Israel has to start making contingency plans. We will be left with no earthly nation as an ally. We will be completely on our own as God wills it. We will have to summon our strength and wisdom to rely on God alone and survive by virtue of our faith, AMEN. America will be forced to betray israel, this is also God's will.
6 | Matthew, Nashville USA, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Can't tell you if your fight is just or not. Don't live there. Can imagine the terror of a constant reign of rockets. Can imagine living in a ghetto. Can tell you this: Israel has the worst concept of media coverage on the planet. By not allowing foregn media into Gaza, Israel has failed. All we see in America are images from BBC and Arab TV, What we see are injured children. And dead children..
7 | Themis, Kigali, Rwanda, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Even if i'm not american and live in Africa, i think americans they support Israel like many other in freeworld because it is clear that Hamas provocated this war by keeping bombing Israel.
I think Hamas and many people on arab street should think twice and embrace a new vision of hope and compromise instead of sticking on what happened in 1948. but untill then Israel will need to protect itself and Hamas will always put civilians in danger so that it can what it calls a victory.
8 | Dror, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Tom and his 24 million $ earnings. Judgement day is nigh for you edomite. You who puts his trust in the $. You want to talk about trash? look at yourself in the mirror.
9 | Ray USA, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
I'm an American of independent political thought that (I believe) has tried to view the situation in your region with fairness and consideration of the positions of people on both sides of the argument.
There is no doubt you deserve the right to self defense and I believe the loss of civilian life, on both sides, is a tragedy (I believe the loss of military lives on both sides is regrettable, but it's not a tragedy...it's a possible result based upon choice).
Hostilities are the result of one group alone...the Islamists (a distinction I make from Muslims).
Best Wishes...stay strong.
10 | Old Pete from Kentucky, USA, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Many Americans could care less what happens to the Palestinians. Many remember them dancing in teh streets after 9/11 and would like to see Gaza carpet bombed. What a stupid question. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization and they need killing. There is as much press coverage as Hamas has allowed coverage of their own conduct and suppression of their own people. Go IDF! Advance! Advance!
11 | Richard, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
If you are still obviously ignorant of the truth, and why Palestinians hate Jews, and why Jews are more responsible than anyone for anti-semitism then watch this, enlighten yourselves. You have been mostly brainwashed with governmental propoganda, and have no idea...............
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2451908450811690589
12 | linda chico ca,, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
13 | Mikael from Sweden, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
DIME http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27a/308.html
you could read something from Richard Falk, that is discussing Israeli behaviour according to international law. Just googgle his name.In short I am really disappointed on the Jewish people that let a murderous and criminal people run your government.
This will go to history, as an Israeli crimeact!
14 | LINDA NORMAN, MICANOPY, FL.USA, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
LINDA FROM FLORIDA, USA
HAMAS STARTED THIS WAR. ISREAL IS SIMPLY DEFENDING ITSELF. I STAND FOR ISREAL. I PRAY FOR ISREAL. DO NOT BE AFRAID, GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE. HE IS YOUR DEFENDER. THIS LAND WAS GIVEN TO THE HEBREWS THROUGH ABRAHAM AND THE SON OF PROMISE, ISAAC. THIS HAS NOT CHANGED. THE WORD OF GOD HAS NOT CHANGED.
DEFEND YOURSELF PEOPLE OF ISREAL. I PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM. SHALOM
15 | john jacob, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
What an open question. America is divided along political lines just as Israel. What one side favors the other rejects, usually. However, in the case of Israel, the vast majority of Americans do not side with terrorists. Those that indiscriminately shoot ball-bearing rockets into Israel daily for years and then hide behind women and children as shields are despised by most rational thinking people around the world, including Americans We live in a world where some people think that the killing of unborn children is their right, so what faith would you put in those type of people?
16 | sinnerconman (Malaysia), Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Statistics are all lies. Israel, you do what you have to do. Hamas provoked war and boasted that Gaza would be the graveyards for the Israeli soldiers. When the ground forces entered Gaza, these cowards were hiding behind women and children. They were hiding in mosques, hospitals and schools. They mined and bobby trapped all these places. These Hamas fired as the Israeli forces from a UN school and then ran to hid in the school. A mortar fired from an Israeli tank hit the school and then there were secondary explosions resulting in the death of nearly 50 Palestinians. Propaganda for Hamas.
17 | Earnest Frank USA, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
The US has and continues to give Israel a free pass, but with each passing day more and more of us can no longer accept the slaughter of civilians in Gaza as justifiable. For me the tipping point came when the IDF shelled the UN school and resurrected some 2007 film footage showing armed militants in the area. Israel today exemplifies the sociopathy of Madeline Albright's remark, "What good is a mighty army if you don't use it?"
18 | Sonny, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Opinion polls are like noses, everyone has one! You can not base Israeli policy on international polling.
As far as the Gaza thing, I like what Number 3 said: "Rid your region of those that mean you harm and deal with the weak when the projectiles stop". Israel is within it's rights under the UN charter.
Israel war the country attacked first. What Israel does to rectify the matter is up to Israel, not the UN, Europe, US and others.
19 | linda chico ca,, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
To my brothers and sisters of the great State of Isreal I support you and your actions 100%. I do not think it wise or in your nations best interest to allow international pressure determan a truce that would leave hamas in tact, protect your nation. The poll numbers appear to be correct, the American people overwelmingly support you and many of us have great concerns about the new gov. commitment to Isreal.. If there is a departure from long established U.S. policies, this would only further infuriate the American people who already openly speak of revolution. Do not doubt we are with you.
20 | linda chico ca,, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
To my brothers and sisters of the great State of Isreal I support you and your actions 100%. I do not think it wise or in your nations best interest to allow international pressure determan a truce that would leave hamas in tact, protect your nation. The poll numbers appear to be correct, the American people overwelmingly support you and many of us have great concerns about the new gov. commitment to Isreal.. If there is a departure from long established U.S. policies, this would only further infuriate the American people who already openly speak of revolution. Do not doubt we are with you.
21 | larry wallace powder springs, ga. U.S.A., Thursday Jan 15, 2009
THIS American supports wholeheartedly Israel's fight to defend itself! I would to God my country had the focus to fight without trying to be politically correct!
22 | Californian, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
We know the answer to this one. If Americans see pictures and read the details there appalled. It boils down to their source of news. Do you get your headlines from papers, TV or the internet? Do you even read the news?
23 | Josh, Florida USA, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
These poll numbers just reinforce the culture split going on in the US. Most Americans still support the fundamental principles that make this country great, and still great by the way, but their are others who are willing to commit cultural suicide because of their guilt over injustices, real or imagined committed over the years. The fact is that government main purpose is to protect it's citizens from it's enemies. Most Americans know this and support Israel 100%. We would do the same thing. To those who are bashing Israel because of your guilt over western injustices I say GET OVER IT!!!
24 | Jo Hayman, Indiana - U.S., Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Sad, but true, that in the NEAR future, all will be forced to believe in the REAL God who protects his chosen people, Israel. Prophecy is being fulfilled at an incredibly rapid rate, and Israel is the "thorn" in the side of all the world, as God said it would in the last days. You are SO right to defend yourselves, as ALL other nations do when they are attacked.
Don't listen to US polls - they don't listen to the US people on ANYTHING - just report what is politically correct and "popular". You will survive - God will protect you, but horrible times are just around the corner for the world.
25 | Tamara, Westchester, NY, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Last count I heard was 1000+ Palestinian (many of them children) and 13 Israeli dead (three of them civilians). Do the math. Given this and the lack of access imposed on foreign reporters, it is hard to understand why Israel expects its spinning spokesmen and women to elicit a positive reaction from the rest of the world. I am ashamed that my tax dollars contribute to this genocide.
26 | Boaz, NY, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
The political divide has two causes: First, the political right includes the religious right, which claims support for Israel as its private purview, and has thus convinced some on the left to oppose it. Second, Americans associate Israel's fight against terrorists with their own "war on terrorism." Since the Iraq war was chosen and botched by a Republican administration, the left is distrustful of war, no matter how justified, as a solution to "Mid-East problems" while the right enthusiastically supports such fighting whether wise or not.
27 | SGT J M, 3rd Infantry Div. US Army, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
How Americans can support hamas, or the civilians that VOTED them in, who openly calls for the slaughter of the Israeli people, is a terrorist organization, denies Israel's right to exist, denies the holocaust ever happened, would love nothing more than America be destroyed and establish islam sharia law worldwide (submit or die!), cheered on 9/11, fires at Israel with no regard for who they kill, hides behind their own civilians.... etc! How some Americans can ignorantly support that is beyond insanity! Do what you must Israel, their opinions mean nothing in your REAL life or death struggle.
28 | James, Orlando, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
In response to Ray from California. Of course you are against Israel's actions. A majority of left wing, God rejecting, terrorist supporters are from the west coast. Israel has every right to defend it's land and people.
29 | LK, Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Everyone is entitled to an opinion but only those that sacrifice are entitled to a voice. American Jewish support, unless it is of a monetary nature, is functionally irrelevant. The Israelis don't need to be liked - they don't even need to be right - they need to stay alive.
30 | LK, Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Everyone is entitled to an opinion but only those that sacrifice are entitled to a voice. American Jewish support, unless it is of a monetary nature, is functionally irrelevant. The Israelis don't need to be liked - they don't even need to be right - they need to stay alive.
31 | James, Orlando, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Israel, Christian Americans are standing with you at this hour. Those who are against you and support your enemies will be cursed by God.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:2-3)
32 | James, Orlando, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Israel, Christian Americans are standing with you at this hour. Those who are against you and support your enemies will be cursed by God.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:2-3)
33 | Ari , los angeles, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Poll by the biased pro-israeli ISRAEL PROJECT, hardly impartial, YOUR POLL IS VERY UNRELIABLE
34 | marty Oakland, Ca, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
We are solidly behind Israel. The bombing in Beersheva shows what would have happened if Isreal had not acted. Hamas was buying longer range and more deadly missles to kill more and more Israeli's. These are not harmless rockets but shrapnel filled rockets which maim and kill innocent people. Hamas declared war. The world did nothing. Now some condemn Israel. Fortunately most Americans strongly support what Israel is doing. I just hope they finish the job before the cease fire goes into effect. The Palestinian people will never have peace until they want peace more than they hate Jews.
35 | not bill clinton, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Well james from Florida, it was a palestinian woman in fort lauderdale that was shouting "jews to the ovens", not everyone here in california, supports terror. San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley are not part of the USA, they are alien cities, so you cannot count them. Oakland is the worst place, better not be white and live in Oakland..
36 | Peaceman Jones - Minneapolis, MN, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
I'm an American who is AGAINST the Israeli murder of hundreds of innocent Palestinian civilians. I'm also against the rocket fire coming into Israel and murdering a much smaller number of Israelis. Until Israel stops making it impossible for Palestinians to live normal lives, the Palestinian people will continue to join groups like Hamas out of pure frustration. If I lived in Palestine and my family got killed by an Israeli bomb or missile strike, I would be bitter and firing rockets into Israel, too. The days of using huge bombs and killing innocent civilians must come to a close.
37 | jgfox, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
On Public Opinion? There is no such thing as public opinion. There is only published opinion. Winston Churchill
Israel needs to do what is necessary to survive otherwise some future Rasmussen opinion poll may have questions such as:
Was the complete destruction of Israel necessary? If Yes, Why? (multiple choices are allowed)
1. It resolved a long lasting dispute that impoverished the area and lead to conflicts.
2. It was the first necessary step to eliminate Jewish World Domination.
And do you want to try to guess how many will answer Yes?
But we should be comforted. World Opinion has been satisfied. Im sure that if that occurred there will be strikingly artistic memorials constructed to honor the memory of Israeli and popular concerts to provide support to those who managed to escape.
38 | richard USA, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Israel has the right to protect themselves from ongoing, cowardly attacks by Hamas. Enough IS enough.
Typical of all radical Muslim terrorist organizations, hiding as the cowards they are among the innocent Palestinians with no regard for the lives of even their own people. The left-wing liberal media of America in NO WAY represents the true sentiments of its people. Judgment is coming to the enemies of Israel.
39 | Wes -- Freeport, Texas, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
I am SOLIDLY behind Israel in all matters versus the "Palestinians." ALL of the Holy Land should belong to Israel -- Gaza and West Bank included. Israel is a shining beacon of hope in the filthy world of radical Islamist countries that surround them. Israel tries to agree to truces with Hezbollah and Hamas, they withdraw military forces that are protecting their homeland, and then Hezbollah and Hamas launch rockets and suicide bombers anyway, and the world says nothing. I fervently hope that Israel will crush all of the Muslim forces and finally be able to live in peace.
40 | Lamont, San Mateo, CA, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
Must look at history to understand what is just. There were about 600,000 Palestinians and no more than 40,000 Jewish people in Holy Land after WW1 when British started rising flood of Jewish immigrants. Zionist friend agrees no claim to land based on occpancy before Romans expelled Jewish people. Zionist program is invasion to make Jewish rule and expel Arabs. It's a war and Arabs have rights of self defense. Zionists have no rights to Holy Land. Their intent to kill or expel all Arabs makes them morally repugnant. No justice, no peace. US must party company with Israel deceivers.
41 | houran, new york ny, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
As an outsider (though I suppose I'm indirectly involved since my tax dollars support the Israeli war machine), I am shocked at reports saying the Israeli people are all pretty much behind this operation. How can that be? You have massacred over 300 children!
And please, stop telling me that it's Hamas' fault... human shield. blah blah. Few in America are buying that crap. Because it doesn't matter even if they were! You do not kill children to get to your enemy. It's wrong. Period.
To that point, despite what our crooked and bought out politicians say, our military would not respond this way! American troops are not in Iraq indiscriminately killing civilians. They try to protect civilian life whenever possible. The few exceptions to this has resulted in investigation and punishments for those soldiers.
I mean really - how can you see this destruction and murdering and justify it?! Israelis are human beings, aren't they? Eh, but I suppose so were the Nazis.
42 | Jocelyn Roy, Thursday Jan 15, 2009
I'm a Québécois (Canada) and I do not support war, wherever it is, whoever is leading it. I know that some canadians support Israel for different reasons and some support Palestine for other reasons. I personnaly support both the people of Israel and Palestine for their suffering. Everybody knows exactly what needs to be done. I hope that Israel people will force their government to solve the greater problem. I've had enough of the on-going hate between you guys, do something. For the love of God, if you want.
|
Post your own comment