American and Israeli Jews rift growing
JERUSALEM: An opinion poll published yesterday shows deep divisions between Israelis and American Jews, particularly in relation to President Donald Trump, highlighting the growing rift between the world’s two largest Jewish communities.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) survey showed 77% of Israelis approved of Trump’s handling of US-Israel relations, but only 34% of American Jews did. Fifty-seven percent of US Jews disapproved, but only 10% of Israelis did.
Trump recently recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moved the US Embassy there, upending decades of US foreign policy and an international consensus that the city’s fate should be decided through peace negotiations.
The Palestinians, who claim east Jerusalem as their future capital, were outraged and severed all contacts with the US in response.
Eighty-five percent of Israelis supported the embassy move, while only 46% of American Jews did.
The AJC surveyed 1 000 Israelis and Americans and had respective margins of error of 3.1% and 3.9%.
The survey was released ahead of the opening of the AJC Global Forum in Jerusalem, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed.
Netanyahu has forged a close bond with Trump, and their hardline policies towards the Palestinians have strong support in Israel and among its Republican backers in the US. But most American Jews are Democrats are critical of Trump and Netanyahu.
Experts have been warning for years that the two communities are drifting in opposite directions politically, thereby undermining the kinship of the communities of the vast majority of Jews.
The poll showed 59% of Americans favouring the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel but only 44% of Israelis supporting the idea.
The communities share similar views on the importance of good ties between the “extended family.” But they differ greatly on matters of religion and state, particularly on the ultra-Orthodox monopoly over religious affairs in Israel. The vast majority of American Jews identify as either Reform or Conservative, the more liberal streams of Judaism that have a very small foothold in Israel.
On one of the most contentious issues, regarding a mixed-gender prayer area next to Jerusalem’s Western Wall, 73% of American Jews express support, compared to just 42% of Israelis.