Israelis, US Jews are divided over embassy

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 survey of the American Jewish Committee showed 77 per cent of Israelis approved of the president’s handling of US-Israel relations, while only 34 per cent of American Jews did. Fifty-seven per cent of US Jews disapproved, while only 10 per cent of Israelis did.

Trump recently recognised occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocated US Embassy there, upending decades of US foreign policy and an international consensus that the city’s fate should be decided through peace negotiations.

Eighty-five per cent of Israelis supported the embassy move, while only 46 per cent of American Jews did.

The poll showed 59 per cent of Americans favouring the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel but only 44 per cent of Israelis supporting the idea.