ADL chief Abe Foxman
Israelis believe strong ties with US vital, poll finds
'Israelis view US as closest ally; US support for Israel based on perception of Israel as strategic partner,' says ADL director Abraham Foxman
The vast majority of Israelis believe close relations with the United States are vital to Israel's security, according to a poll carried out by the Anti-Defamation League with the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies.
The poll surveyed Israeli public opinion on Israel's relations with the United States and the Diaspora. Carried out by the Maagar Mochot polling agency, the poll questioned 505 Israeli adults in May 2000; it has a 4.7 margin of error.
Two-thirds of Israelis view United States-Israeli relations in a positive light, while eight percent have a negative view of the US; 65 percent of Israelis think of the US as a loyal ally to Israel, according to the poll.
Should Israel face an existential threat, 80 percent believe the US would come to Israel's aid; 73 percent consider President George W. Bush "friendly to Israel".
Special relationship
“This poll clearly demonstrates the strength of the special relationship that binds Israel and America together," said ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman.
"Israelis view the US as their closest and most important ally. Similarly, US public support for Israel is based on the perception of Israel as a strategic and value-based ally. The two countries share a truly remarkable, unique alliance."
Although most Americans think the US was wrong, in retrospect, to go to war in Iraq, 59 percent of Israelis think the war in Iraq was the right decision.
As for Iran, 71 percent believe the US should use force to prevent Iran's nuclear armament.
However, in assessing American Jewry, one-third of Israelis think US Jewish support for Israel is insufficient, while 52 percent consider it sufficient. Nearly half (49 percent) think US Jews are rapidly assimilating and fear this puts Judaism in America at risk of disappearing. Most (57 percent) think US Jews would vote for a governmental candidate with anti-Israel views.
54 percent believe there is anti-Semitism in the US, but that it is not significant; while 36 percent believe anti-Semitism is a significant problem there.
