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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=676040805-17122007><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=#000000 size=3> </FONT>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal" align=center><FONT
color=#000000 size=3><U><B>American Jews on War and Peace:</B></U></FONT></P>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal" align=center><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><U><B>What Do the Polls Tell Us and Not Tell
Us?</B></U></FONT></FONT></P>
<H1 class=western style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%" align=center>James Petras</H1>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal" align=center><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><B>December 15, 2007</B></FONT></FONT></P>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"
align=center><BR></P>
<H2 class=western style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%">Introduction</H2>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>Once again, a poll recently released by the American
Jewish Committee (AJC) (1) has confirmed that on </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US><U>some</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US> questions of major significance there are vast
differences between the opinion of the Presidents of the Major American Jewish
Organizations and the mass of American Jews. On questions of the Iraq war, the
escalation of US military forces in Iraq (the ‘Surge’) and military action
against Iran, most Jewish Americans differ from the leaders of the major
American Jewish organizations.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>Most liberal, progressive or radical Jewish commentators
have emphasized these differences to argue, </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=en-US><I>“most American Jews resoundingly
reject the Middle East militarism and GOP foreign policy championed by
right-wing Jewish factions.”</I></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>(2) This progressive interpretation however avoids an
even more fundamental question: How is it that a majority of US Jews who,
according to the AJC poll (and several others going back over two decades)
differ with the principal American Jewish organizations, have not or
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=en-US><U>do
not</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>
challenge the position of the dominant Jewish organization, have virtually no
impact on the US Congress, the Executive and the mass media in comparison to the
Presidents of the Major American Jewish Organizations?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>The issue of the ‘silent majority’ is questionable since
all Jewish and non-Jewish commentators point to the highly vocal and
disproportionate rates of participation of American Jews in the political
process, from electoral campaigns to civil society movements. Nor is it clear
that the progressive majority lacks the high incomes of the reactionary
‘minority’. There are some Jewish millionaires and even a few billionaires who
hold views opposing the leadership of the major Jewish organizations. There are
several probable explanations that account for the </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US><U>power</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US> of Jewish leaders in shaping US Middle East policy and
the relative </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US><U>impotence</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US> of the majority of American
Jews.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<H2 class=western style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%">The Poll: A Re-Analysis</H2>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3>The poll results highlighted by progressive Jewish
analysts point to the 59% to 31% majority of Jews disapproving the way the US is
handling the ‘campaign against terror.” The problem with using the answers to
this question to indicate progressive opinion is that a number of Zionist
ideologues and their followers also oppose the ‘handling of the campaign’
because it is not sufficiently brutal, authoritarian and arbitrary. Other
findings cited include a 67% to 27% majority currently believing that the US
should have stayed out of Iraq, a 76% to 23% majority who believe the war is
going ‘somewhat’ or ‘very badly’ in Iraq, a 68% to 30% majority believing that
the ‘surge’ has either made things worse or has no impact.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3>Evem more important, a large majority (57% to 35%) of
American Jews oppose the United States launching a pre-emptive military attack
against Iran, even if it were taken ‘to prevent (Iran) from developing nuclear
weapons.” The progressive analysts then cite the polls finding that most
American Jews are ‘some shade of liberal’ rather than ‘conservative’ (42% to
25%) and overwhelmingly identified as Democrats rather than Republicans by 58%
to 15%. Most Jews believe that Democrats will make the ‘right decisions on the
war in Iraq (61% to 21%). Finally, the progressives have very favorable views of
the top three Democratic presidential candidates.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3>On the surface these polling results would suggest
that American Jews would be at the cutting edge of the congressional anti-war
movements, arousing their fellow Jews to join and resurrect the moribund peace
movement. Nothing of the sort has occurred.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>One reason for the gap between the ‘progressive’ polling
results and the actual pro-war behavior of the major American Jewish
Organizations is found in several of the opinions </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=en-US><U>not
cited</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>
by progressive analysts but emphasized by the 52 leaders of the major communal
organizations (</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US><U>Daily Alert</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>, December 13, 2007). Over eighty percent (82%) of
American Jews agree that ‘the goal of the Arabs is not the return of occupied
territories but rather the destruction of Israel’. Only 12% of Jews disagree.
And 55% to 37% do not believe Israel and its Arab neighbors will settle their
differences and live in peace. On the key issue of a compromise on the key issue
of Jerusalem, by 58% to 36% American Jews reject an Israeli compromise to insure
a framework for permanent peace.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>Given the high salience of being pro-Israel for the
majority of American Jews and the fact that the source of their identity stems
more from their loyalty to Israel than to the Talmud or religious myths and
rituals, then it is clear that both the ‘progressive, majority of Jews and the
reactionary minority who head up all the major American Jewish organizations
have a fundamental point of </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US><U>agreement</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=en-US> and </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US><U>convergence</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>: Support and identity with Israel and its anti-Arab
prejudices, its expansion and the dispossession of Palestine. This overriding
convergence allows the reactionary Presidents of the Major Jewish Organizations
in America to speak for the Jewish community with virtually
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=en-US><U>no
opposition</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US> from the progressive majority either within or without their
organizations. By raising the Israeli flag, repeating clichés about the
‘existential threat’ to Israel at each and every convenient moment, the majority
of Jews have bowed their heads and acquiesced or, worst, subordinated their
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=en-US><U>other
‘progressive’ opinions</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US> to actively backing the leaders ‘identity’ with Israel.
Their franchise on being the recognized Jewish spokespeople intimidates and/or
forces progressive Jews to publicly abide to the line that ‘Israel (sic) knows
what is best for Israel’ and by extension for all American Jews who identify
with Israel.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>A second important factor in undermining progressive
American Jewish activity against US-Israeli war policy in the Middle East
(Lebanon, Iran, Iraq and Palestine) is the influence of Israeli public opinion.
A </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US><U>Haaretz</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US> report (December 9, 2007) documents a civil rights poll
showing that </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US><I>‘Israel has reached new heights of
racism…’</I></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US>, citing a 26% rise in anti-Arab incidents (Association for Civil
Rights in Israel Annual Report for 2007). The report cites the
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US><U>doubling</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US> of the number of Jews expressing feelings of hatred to
Arabs. Fifty percent of Israeli Jews oppose equal rights for their Arab
compatriots. According to a Haifa University study, 74% of Jewish youth in
Israel think that Arabs are </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US><I>‘unclean’</I></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3>Progressive American Jews, identifying with a racist
colonial state, face a dilemma: Whether to act against their primary identity in
favor of their progressive opinions or whether to back Israel and submit to its
American franchise holders and recognized leaders.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3>Given these issues, a serious analyst clearly must
distinguish between ‘opinions’ and ‘commitment’. While a majority of American
Jews may voice private progressive opinions, their commitments based on their
identity as Jews rests with the State of Israel and its principal mouthpieces in
the US. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>This probably explains the unwillingness of progressive
Jews to </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US><U>criticize</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US> the principal reactionary Jewish leaders and their mass
organizations, even worse to attack and slander any critics of the pro-Israel
power configuration. Progressive Jews have subordinated their progressive
opinions to their loyalty and identity with Israel. Organizationally this has
meant that the majority of major American Jewish organizations are still led and
controlled by pro-war, pro-Israel leaders. Progressive Jewish organizations are
on the fringe of the organizational map, with virtually no influence in the
Congress or Presidency and backers of a pro-war Democratic Party and Congress.
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3>Progressive analysts who cite overwhelming Jewish
support for the Democratic Party, its top three Presidential candidates and
their preference for the liberal label as differentiating them from the leaders
of the major organizations, commit an elementary logical and substantive
fallacy. Liberals, like the Clintons, supported the wars against Iraq and are
among the driving forces promoting a military attack on Iran. The Democratic
majority in Congress has backed every military appropriation demanded by the
Republicans and the White House. Being Democrat and ‘liberal’ is no indicator of
being ‘progressive’ using any foreign policy indicator, from the Middle East
wars to destabilizations efforts in Venezuela.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3>The apparent paradox of progressive anti-war Jews
contributing big bucks to pro-war Democrats is based on the latter’s
unconditional support for Israel which trumps any ‘dissonance’ that might exist
in the head of progressive Jewish political activists.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3>With the American Pro-Israel Power Configuration
leading the way to savaging the National Intelligence Estimate study, released
in December 2007, on the absence of an Iranian nuclear weapons program,
progressive Jewish opinion is silent or complicit. Worse still, progressive
liberal and radical Jewish peace activists have acted as gate-keepers in the
anti-war movement – prohibiting any criticism of Israel and labeling individuals
or citizen activists critical of the pro-war Zionist lobby as ‘anti-Semites’.
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US>The AJC opinion poll on the high proportion of American
Jewish with more progressive opinions than the leadership of all the major
mainstream organizations would be officially welcomed </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=en-US><U>if</U></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN lang=en-US> it led to something else besides
private opinions compromised by Israeli identities.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3><B>Footnotes:</B></FONT></FONT></P>
<OL>
<LI>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><U><A
href="http://www.ajc.org/site/c.1J1TSPHKoG/b.36428551"><FONT color=#0000ff
size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US>www.ajc.org/site/c.1J1TSPHKoG/b.36428551</SPAN></FONT></A></U></P>
<LI>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT
color=#000000><FONT size=3>Glen Greenwald, “New Poll Reveals How
Unrepresentative Neo-Con Jewish Groups Are”, on
salon.com</FONT></FONT></P></LI></OL>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><BR></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; FONT-STYLE: normal"><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US><I>James Petras is the author of
</I></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
lang=en-US><I><U>The Power of Israel in the United States (Clarity Press 2006);
The Rulers and the Ruled in the US Empire: Bankers, Zionists and Militants
(Clarity Press 2007)</U></I></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000><FONT
size=3><SPAN lang=en-US><I> </I></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P lang=en-US style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><BR></P>
<P>He is a specialist on US Zionist politics and a close reader of the Israeli
and American Jewish Press.</P></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Bob Carter
[mailto:rwcsr1@yahoo.com] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, December 16, 2007 8:37
PM<BR><B>To:</B> rwcsr1@yahoo.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Fwd: Re: [PAA-Discuss]
New Poll Reveals How Unrepresentative Neocon Jewish Groups
Are<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><BR><BR><B><I>Bob Carter
<rwcsr1@yahoo.com></I></B> wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Date:
Sun, 16 Dec 2007 10:33:49 -0800 (PST)<BR>From: Bob Carter
<rwcsr1@yahoo.com><BR>Subject: Re: [PAA-Discuss] New Poll Reveals How
Unrepresentative Neocon Jewish Groups Are<BR>To: Alyssa Burgin
<aburgin4peace@gmail.com>, <BR>PAA Discuss List
<Discuss@paa-tx.org><BR>CC: Mandell <mandell@yahoogroups.com>,
notinourname@yahoogroups.com<BR><BR>
<DIV>Alyssa, </DIV>
<DIV> I have always been satisfied that there are a
strong minority of Jews that vehemently oppose the Zionist neocon positions
which, in my opinion, cause anti-Semitism and will ultimately lead to the
destruction of Israel, and to more anti-Semitism. Does
this group of Jews (minority or majority?) oppose the Zionist
neocon position because they think that it is wrong and immoral or do
they think that if it continues, Israel will be
severely damaged or both? Are there others reasons why they
oppose? I don't know. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> The survey endeavors to prove that Jewish
opposition to neocon/Zionism is comprised of much more than a
minority. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> I clicked on the Common Dreams web site and
again clicked on to the full survey of 38 questions and read them very
carefully. I think the most of the questions were fair and some even
probing. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> In any survey one needs to try to determine
the reason or motives of those doing the polling. What questions were
not asked? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Question 14 was very interesting: "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.' " The answer: 82% agreed--only 12% disagreed. This was
shocking and a strange question. If the territories were not
illegally and immorally occupied, why would there be any opposition to
Israel?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> FURTHER, WHY DO WE REFUSE TO ASK THE
QUESTIONS THAT GO TO THE VERY HEART AND ROOT CAUSE OF THE
PROBLEM?</DIV>
<DIV> Do you agree or disagree that all of the
illegal (Jewish only) settlements in the West Bank and in East
Jerusalem should be removed?</DIV>
<DIV> Do you agree or disagree to the right of
return of Palestinians?</DIV>
<DIV> Do you agree or disagree that the wall/fence
(which was declared illegal in 2004 by the UN's International Court of
Justice) built on Palestinian land should be removed?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> If questions like this were asked, the results
of the survey may have been a bit different. The Israel/Palestine conflict
WILL NEVER be solved until these questions are asked and properly resolved
according to International law and UN resolutions.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> I am pleased that the survey was taken and am
forever grateful to the principled Jews and Palestinians who have the
courage, in great risk, to treat their neighbors as they would like to
be treated.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bob </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><B><I>Alyssa Burgin <aburgin4peace@gmail.com></I></B>
wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">
<DIV class=gmail_quote>
<DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
<DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><SPAN>Go to <A
href="http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/12/12/5792/"
target=_blank>http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/12/12/5792/</A>
to read comments.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></B></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN></FONT></B></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><SPAN>Published on Wednesday, December 12, 2007
by <A
href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/12/12/ajc_poll/index.html"
target=_blank>Salon.com</A></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></B></SPAN> <FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<H2><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=5><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: navy">New Poll Reveals How
Unrepresentative Neocon Jewish Groups Are</SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT></B></H2>
<DIV><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><SPAN>by Glenn
Greenwald</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></B></DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=navy><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"><FONT size=4>A
</FONT><A href="http://www.ajc.org/site/c.ijITI2PHKoG/b.3642849/"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>new survey of American Jewish opinion
</FONT></A><FONT size=4>, released by the American Jewish Committee,
demonstrates several important propositions: (1) right-wing neocons (the
Bill Kristol/<I><I>Commentary</I></I>/ AIPAC/Marty Peretz faction) who
relentlessly claim to speak for Israel and for Jews generally hold views
that are shared only by a small minority of American Jews; (2)
viewpoints that are routinely demonized as reflective of animus towards
Israel or even anti-Semitism are ones that are held by large majorities
of American Jews; and (3) most American Jews oppose U.S. military action
in the Middle East — including both in Iraq and against
Iran.</FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=navy><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"><FONT size=4>It is
beyond dispute that American Jews overwhelmingly oppose </FONT><A
href="http://www.ajc.org/site/c.ijITI2PHKoG/b.3642855/"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>core neoconservative foreign policy
principles</FONT></A><FONT size=4>. Hence, in large numbers, they
disapprove of the way the U.S. is handling its "campaign against
terrorism" (59-31); overwhelmingly believe the U.S. should have stayed
out of Iraq (67-27); believe that things are going "somewhat badly" or
"very badly" in Iraq (76-23); and believe that the "surge" has either
made things worse or has had no impact
(68-30).</FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=navy><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"><FONT size=4>When
asked whether they would support or oppose the United States taking
military action against Iran, a large majority — 57-35% — say they would
oppose such action, <B><B>even if</B></B> it were being undertaken "to
prevent [Iran] from developing nuclear weapons." While Jews hold
</FONT><A href="http://www.ajc.org/site/c.ijITI2PHKoG/b.3642857/"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>views on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict</FONT></A><FONT size=4> which are quite pessimistic about the
prospects for Israel's ability to achieve a lasting peace with its "Arab
neighbors," even there, a plurality (46-43) supports the establishment
of a Palestinian state.</FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=navy><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"><FONT size=4>In
the </FONT><A href="http://www.ajc.org/site/c.ijITI2PHKoG/b.3642951/"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>realm of U.S. domestic politics
</FONT></A><FONT size=4>, it is even clearer that right-wing
neoconservatives are a fringe segment of American Jewish public opinion.
By a large margin, American Jews identify as some shade of liberal
rather than conservative (43-25), and overwhelmingly identify themselves
as Democrats rather than Republicans (58-15). And, most strikingly, by a
<B><B>3-1 margin</B></B> (61-21), they believe that Democrats, rather
than Republicans, are "more likely to make the right decision about the
war in Iraq," and by a similarly lopsided margin (53-30), believe that
Democrats are "more likely to make the right decision when it comes to
dealing with terrorism." They have overwhelmingly favorable views of the
top 3 Democratic presidential candidates, and overwhelmingly negative
views of 3 out of the top 4 GOP candidates (Giuliani being the sole
exception, where opinion is split).</FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=navy><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"><FONT size=4>Contrary to the
bottomless obssession which most neocon pundits and office-holders have
with All Matters Israel, the principal political concerns of most
American Jews have nothing to do with the Middle East. Thus, they
identify "economy/jobs" (22) and "health care" (19) — not Terrorism — as
"the most important problem facing the U.S. today." Still, </FONT><A
href="http://www.ajc.org/site/c.ijITI2PHKoG/b.3643395/"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>most American Jews agree that</FONT></A><FONT
size=4> "[c]aring about Israel is a very important part of [their] being
a Jew" — a </FONT><A
href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-11-18-cubapoll_N.htm"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>common</FONT></A><FONT size=4>, innocuous and
indisputable attribute that typically triggers </FONT><A
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/04/AR2006040401282.html"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>noxious charges of anti-Semitism</FONT></A>
<FONT size=4>if pointed out by </FONT><A
href="http://www.amazon.com/Israel-Lobby-U-S-Foreign-Policy/dp/0374177724/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197461055&sr=8-1"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>those who oppose the neoconservative
agenda</FONT></A><FONT size=4>.</FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=navy><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"><FONT size=4>One of the defining
traits of war-loving neoconservatives is that their unrelenting and
exclusive fixation on the Middle East places them loudly at the center
of any foreign policy debates. That tenacity — combined with their
</FONT><A
href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/537qsphp.asp"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>reckless exploitation of "anti-Israel" and
anti-Semitism accusations</FONT></A><FONT size=4> as instruments in
their political rhetoric and their corresponding, deceitful </FONT><A
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/05/politics/05aipac.html"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>equation of their own views with being
"pro-Israel"</FONT></A><FONT size=4> — often casts the appearance that
they are some sort of spokespeople for the "pro-Israel" agenda or the
Jewish viewpoint.</FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=navy size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"><FONT
size=4>Manifestly, they are nothing of the sort. Even among American
Jews, they comprise only a small minority, and their</FONT> <FONT
size=4>generally discredited militarism is widely rejected by most Jews
as well. It is always worth underscoring these points, which are so
frequently (and deliberately) obscured, and this comprehensive poll
provides</FONT> <FONT size=4>potent — actually quite conclusive —
evidence for doing so.</FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT><BR><I><I><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=navy><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"><FONT size=4>Glenn
Greenwald was previously a constitutional law and civil rights litigator
in New York. He is the author of the New York Times Bestselling book
"</FONT><A
href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/097794400X?tag=commondreams-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=097794400X&adid=0DDYV6E3FJN3EJW5RMWC&"
target=_blank> <FONT size=4>How Would a Patriot Act?</FONT></A><FONT
size=4>," a critique of the Bush administration's use of executive
power, released in May 2006. His second book, "</FONT><A
href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307354199?tag=commondreams-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0307354199&adid=0JN08D8RST19DSGHZY6K&"
target=_blank><FONT size=4> A Tragic Legacy</FONT></A><FONT size=4>",
examines the Bush legacy.</FONT></SPAN></FONT></I></I><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT><BR>
<DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">© <A href="http://salon.com/"
target=_blank>Salon.com</A></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=navy><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN></FONT></FONT></B> </DIV></DIV><BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV><BR>---------------<BR>Progressive
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