Israeli Citizens Feel the Bond, it’s Time Knesset Did Too

July 7, 2011 / 0 Comments

A new survey was recently conducted by the B’nai B’rith World Center in Jerusalem polling Israelis on their attitudes towards the American Jewish community. The results show that Israelis strongly believe that Israel should maintain a close relationship with Jewish communities abroad.

Among the many responses, the most compelling results were that 71 percent of those surveyed believe that their government should agree to meet with foreign groups critical of Israeli policies. 65 percent of respondents saying that they have relatives living outside of Israel. Clearly, Israelis feel a strong connection to Diaspora Jewry.

This poll comes very soon after another recent survey, which showed that over half of Americans are pro-Israel. Clearly, the bond between Israel and America is felt by the citizens of both nations. By the same token, there is a disquieting element among certain young American Jews to question their relationship with Israel, even to the point of hostility. The takeaway from all of this, the polls by B’nai B’rith poll and The Israel Project, and the anti-Zionist rhetoric on the American left, is that Israeli politicians and officials would do well do dig deeper into and better understand the attitudes of American Jewry.