(JTA).A solid majority of American Jews support Barack Obama's and Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of U.S.-Israeli relations, according to a new survey.
The "2010 Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion," commissioned by the American Jewish Committee, found that 55 percent of U.S. Jews approve of Obama's handling of relations with Israel, with 37 percent disapproving. Netanyahu scored slightly better, with 57 percent approving of his handling of relations with the United States and only 30 percent disapproving.
The survey involved a sample size of 800 self-identifying Jewish respondents and had a margin of error of plus/minus three percentage points. Interviews were conducted by the firm Synovate (formerly Market Facts) between March 2-23, as tensions between both governments heated up after over over a building start in eastern Jerusalem announced during a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.
Obama's overall approval rating among Jews was 57 percent, with 38 percent disapproving.
According to the survey, 64 percent of Jews think Israel should -- as part of a peace deal with the Palestinians -- be willing to remove at least some of the settlements in the West Bank. But 61 percent rejected the idea that Israel should be willing to "compromise on the status of Jerusalem as a united city under Israeli jurisdiction.
Full results:
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
57% Approve
38 % Disapprove
2. How would you characterize relations between Israel and the United States today? Are they very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative, or very negative?
Very positive 10%
Somewhat positive 63%
Somewhat negative 22%
Very negative 4%
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the Obama Administration's handling of U.S.-Israel relations?
Approve 55%
Disapprove 37%
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the Netanyahu government's handling of Israel-U.S. relations?
Approve 57%
Disapprove 30%
C. Arab-Israel Conflict
5. As compared with one year ago, are you more optimistic about the chance for a lasting peace between Israel and the Arabs, less optimistic, or do you think the chance for a lasting peace is about the same as it was one year ago?
More optimistic 6%
Less optimistic 22%
Same as one year ago 72%
6. In the current situation, do you favor or oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state?
Favor 48%
Oppose 45%
7. In the framework of a permanent peace with the Palestinians, should Israel be willing to compromise on the status of Jerusalem as a united city under Israeli jurisdiction?
Yes 35%
No 61%
8. As part of a permanent settlement with the Palestinians, should Israel be willing to dismantle all, some, or none of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank?
All 8%
Some 56%
None 34%
9. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “The goal of the Arabs is not the return of occupied territories but rather the destruction of Israel.”
Agree 75%
Disagree 20%
10. Should the Palestinians be required or not be required to recognize Israel as a Jewish state in a final peace agreement?
Required 94%
Not required 3%
D. International Issues
11. Do you approve or disapprove of the Obama Administration’s handling of the Iran nuclear issue?
Approve 47%
Disapprove 42%
11. How much of a chance do you think there is that a combination of diplomacy and sanctions can stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons? Is there a good chance, some chance, little chance, or no chance?
Good chance 5%
Some chance 27%
Little chance 45%
No chance 23%
12. Would you support or oppose the United States taking military action against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons?
Support 53%
Oppose 42%
13. Would you support or oppose Israel taking military action against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons?
Support 62%
Oppose 33%
14. Do you think anti-Semitism in the United States is currently a very serious problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem at all?
Very serious problem 25%
Somewhat of a problem 66%
Not a problem at all 9%
15. Do you think anti-Semitism in Europe is currently a very serious problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem at all?
Very serious problem 51%
Somewhat of a problem 44%
Not a problem at all 3%
F. Background Factors
16. In politics as of today, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?
Republican 15%
Democrat 50%
Independent 32%
The "2010 Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion," commissioned by the American Jewish Committee, found that 55 percent of U.S. Jews approve of Obama's handling of relations with Israel, with 37 percent disapproving. Netanyahu scored slightly better, with 57 percent approving of his handling of relations with the United States and only 30 percent disapproving.
The survey involved a sample size of 800 self-identifying Jewish respondents and had a margin of error of plus/minus three percentage points. Interviews were conducted by the firm Synovate (formerly Market Facts) between March 2-23, as tensions between both governments heated up after over over a building start in eastern Jerusalem announced during a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.
Obama's overall approval rating among Jews was 57 percent, with 38 percent disapproving.
According to the survey, 64 percent of Jews think Israel should -- as part of a peace deal with the Palestinians -- be willing to remove at least some of the settlements in the West Bank. But 61 percent rejected the idea that Israel should be willing to "compromise on the status of Jerusalem as a united city under Israeli jurisdiction.
Full results:
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
57% Approve
38 % Disapprove
2. How would you characterize relations between Israel and the United States today? Are they very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative, or very negative?
Very positive 10%
Somewhat positive 63%
Somewhat negative 22%
Very negative 4%
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the Obama Administration's handling of U.S.-Israel relations?
Approve 55%
Disapprove 37%
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the Netanyahu government's handling of Israel-U.S. relations?
Approve 57%
Disapprove 30%
C. Arab-Israel Conflict
5. As compared with one year ago, are you more optimistic about the chance for a lasting peace between Israel and the Arabs, less optimistic, or do you think the chance for a lasting peace is about the same as it was one year ago?
More optimistic 6%
Less optimistic 22%
Same as one year ago 72%
6. In the current situation, do you favor or oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state?
Favor 48%
Oppose 45%
7. In the framework of a permanent peace with the Palestinians, should Israel be willing to compromise on the status of Jerusalem as a united city under Israeli jurisdiction?
Yes 35%
No 61%
8. As part of a permanent settlement with the Palestinians, should Israel be willing to dismantle all, some, or none of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank?
All 8%
Some 56%
None 34%
9. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “The goal of the Arabs is not the return of occupied territories but rather the destruction of Israel.”
Agree 75%
Disagree 20%
10. Should the Palestinians be required or not be required to recognize Israel as a Jewish state in a final peace agreement?
Required 94%
Not required 3%
D. International Issues
11. Do you approve or disapprove of the Obama Administration’s handling of the Iran nuclear issue?
Approve 47%
Disapprove 42%
11. How much of a chance do you think there is that a combination of diplomacy and sanctions can stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons? Is there a good chance, some chance, little chance, or no chance?
Good chance 5%
Some chance 27%
Little chance 45%
No chance 23%
12. Would you support or oppose the United States taking military action against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons?
Support 53%
Oppose 42%
13. Would you support or oppose Israel taking military action against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons?
Support 62%
Oppose 33%
14. Do you think anti-Semitism in the United States is currently a very serious problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem at all?
Very serious problem 25%
Somewhat of a problem 66%
Not a problem at all 9%
15. Do you think anti-Semitism in Europe is currently a very serious problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem at all?
Very serious problem 51%
Somewhat of a problem 44%
Not a problem at all 3%
F. Background Factors
16. In politics as of today, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?
Republican 15%
Democrat 50%
Independent 32%
