National survey of American Jews March 2009. Figure 1 J Street National Survey of American Jews Key Findings American Jews overwhelmingly support President

National survey of American JewsMarch 2009

Figure 2J Street National Survey of American Jews

Key Findings

• American Jews overwhelmingly support President Obama and

approve of his approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict

• Fundamental attitudes about the conflict and America’s role in the Middle East remain unchanged from J Street’s national survey conducted eight months ago

• Jews have deep concerns about Avigdor Lieberman and settlements

• Jews hold complex attitudes toward the recent military action in Gaza: strong approval for Israel during time of war, but strongly question the effectiveness and don’t think it made Israel more secure

• Support for US engagement with a potential Palestinian unity government is strong

Figure 3

Political Landscape

J Street National Survey of American Jews

Figure 4

74

23

0

20

40

60

80

100

Favorable Unfavorable

Obama Extraordinarily Well-Liked


`

+51

Figure 5

5038

2618 22

16

0

20

40

60

80

100

Strongly approve Somewhat approve Strongly disapprove Somewhat disapprove

Strong Approval for Obama’s Job Performance

73

27

Handling his job as President

Handling the Economy Handling the Arab-Israeli Conflict

+46 +42 +44


71

29

72

28

Figure 6

23

27

35

41

46

57

60

20

0 20 40 60 80 100

Has the wrong national security policies

Too liberal

Has a good vision for advancing Middle East peace

Supports Israel

Has good plans for the economy

Shares my values

Honest and trustworthy

Restoring America's standing in the world

% Very well % Well

Obama Viewed Positively Across a Variety of Measures

78

76

73

73

76

40

34

69

Figure 7

70

42

26 26

0

20

40

60

80

100


Clinton and Mitchell Highly Favorable


Hillary Clinton George Mitchell

+44 +16

Figure 8

Conservative Critics Have No Standing with American Jews

23

73 73 72

2322

0

20

40

60

80

100


Favorable - Unfavorable-51 -50 -49

Rush Limbaugh Sarah Palin Republican Party

Figure 9

Stability on Key Measures


Figure 10

48 52

5 30

20

40

60

80

100

Strongly support Somewhat support Strongly oppose Somewhat oppose

Support for Active American Role Stable and Strong

87

13

“Do you support or oppose the United States playing an active role in helping the parties to resolve the

Arab-Israeli conflict?”

+74 +76


July 2008 March 2009

88

12

Figure 11

Support Remains Strong Despite Public Disagreement or

Pressure

8876 70 72

13 1225 24 30 28

7587

0

20

40

60

80

100

Support Oppose

Support - Oppose +76 +50 +52 +44+40 +74

U.S. playing an active role

U.S. publicly disagreeing with both sides

U.S. exerting pressure on both sides

July 2008 March 2009 July 2008 March 2009 July 2008 March 2009

Figure 12

28 31

15 18

0

20

40

60

1st Statement Strongly 1st Statement Somewhat 2nd Statement Strongly 2nd Statement Somewhat

Middle East Peace Still Seen as Core American Interest

55

30

+25 +19



51

32

Middle East peace is a core American interest, and the United States should use assertive diplomacy to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict

OR

Only the parties themselves can make peace, and the United States should let the Palestinians and Israelis work the conflict out on their own

Figure 13

28 3036 37

0

20

40

60


Peace Agreement Still Trumps Military Superiority

34

50

+16 +13



36

49

Israel cannot rely on peace agreements with its enemies to provide security, and in the long run, Israel can only achieve real security by maintaining its military superiority.

OR

Israel must always maintain its strong military, but in the long run, Israel can only achieve real security through peace agreements that end conflicts and establish internationally recognized

borders.

Figure 14

37

15

0

20

40

60

80

Prefer 1st Statement Strongly Prefer 1st Statement SomewhatPrefer 2nd Statement Strongly Prefer 2nd Statement Somewhat

57

25

The new United States envoy to the Middle East, former Senator George Mitchell, should side

with Israel during peace negotiations in order to protect America's democratic ally Israel.

The new United States envoy to the Middle East, former Senator George Mitchell, should act

as a fair and impartial broker in order to achieve a peace agreement between Israelis

and Palestinians.

Jews Seek Even-Handedness in Mitchell Effort


+32

Figure 15

Gaza


Figure 16

47

90

20

40

60

80

100

Strongly approve Somewhat approve Strongly disapprove Somewhat disapprove

75

25

“Do you approve or disapprove of the recent military action that Israel took in Gaza?”

Jews Rally Behind Israel During War

+50


Figure 17

18

41 41 More secureLess secureNo Impact

Little Support for Connor…But Jews Don’t Think Gaza War Helped Israel

“Regardless of whether you approve or disapprove of the recent military action that Israel took in Gaza, do you think it made Israel more secure, less secure,

or had no impact on Israel's security?”

Figure 18

Concerns Toward Gaza Remain Constant


17

3222 19 18 17

23 26

0

20

40

60

80

Strongly agree Somewhat agree Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree

54 56


61 65

Israeli military actions that target terrorists, but kill Palestinian civilians create more

terrorism instead of preventing terrorism.


Israel has the right to defend itself, but it must also take into account humanitarian considerations and avoid collective punishment of the entire Palestinian

population by closing the borders and causing major civilian hardship.

45 44 39 35

+9 +12 +22 +30

Figure 19

Iran


Figure 20

25 2228 23

0

20

40

60


Ambivalence on How to Deal with Iran

39 37

+2 +1


41 40

The best way to deal with Iran is through

direct negotiations that provide strong

incentives for them to abandon the

development of nuclear weapons.

The best way to deal with Iran is

through international

sanctions that force Iran to choose

between nuclear weapons and international

isolation.

America should not attack Iran with

military force if they are on the verge of developing nuclear

weapons.

America should attack Iran with

military force if they are on the verge of developing nuclear

weapons.

Figure 21

Palestinian Unity Government


Figure 22

2816

0

20

40

60

80

100


69

31

“As you may know, the Palestinian Authority is the Palestinian government in the West Bank and has been engaged in peace talks with the Israeli government. Hamas is the Palestinian government in Gaza and is not recognized by the United States because of its terrorism and refusal to recognize

Israel. Currently, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority are negotiating to become a unified Palestinian government. If they reach an agreement, would you support or oppose the United

States working with that unity government to achieve a peace agreement with Israel?”

Strong Support for U.S. to Work with Palestinian Unity Government to Reach

Peace

+38


Figure 23

Final Status Agreement


Figure 24

Final Status Proposal


Eight years ago, Israeli, Palestinian, and American negotiators came very close to reaching a final status peace agreement, but ultimately fell short. The details of that agreement include: • a demilitarized Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza• internationally recognized borders that include some land swaps

allowing for most Jewish settlers in the West Bank to be inside Israel while the Palestinians get comparable land areas in return

• Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem become part of the new Palestinian state while Israel retains control of Jewish neighborhoods and the Western Wall in Jerusalem

• international forces to monitor the new Palestinian state and border crossings

• financial compensation for Palestinian refugees while allowing some refugees to return to Israel if they meet specific family reunification criteria and the Israeli government approves

Figure 25

33

110

20

40

60

80

100


76

24

Final Status Proposal Receives Strong Support

+52


Figure 26

Settlements


Figure 27

14

28

0

20

40

60

80

Strongly support Somewhat Support Strongly Oppose Somewhat Oppose

Strong Opposition to Settlements

40

-20


60

“From what you know about Israeli settlements in the West Bank, do you support or oppose expanding these settlements?”

Figure 28

1428

0

20

40

60

80

Strongly support Somewhat Support Strongly Oppose Somewhat Oppose

Opposition to Settlements Unchanged after Statements

40

-20


60

Supporters of expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank say this is the biblical Land of Israel, Jews have the right to live there, and settlement expansion is necessary to accommodate

natural growth.

Opponents of expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank say the settlements break agreements with the United States, violate international law, and prevent Arab-Israeli peace because they establish Israeli population centers in the middle of a future Palestinian state.

Figure 29

11

45

0

20

40

60

80

100


28

72

“From what you know about Israeli settlements in the West Bank, do you support or oppose expanding these settlements?”

Nearly Three-Quarters of Jewish Political Donors Oppose

Settlements+44


Figure 30

Avigdor Lieberman


Figure 31

8

42

0

20

40

60

80

100


31

69

“As you may know, Israel had an election earlier this month. The party receiving the third largest number of seats is led by Avigdor Lieberman who has previously called for the execution of

Arab members of Israel's parliament who met with Hamas and whose main campaign message called for Arab citizens of Israel to sign a loyalty oath to the Jewish state in order

to prevent their citizenship from being revoked. Do you support or oppose these positions?”

Strong Opposition to Lieberman Views

-38


Figure 32

32

58

100

20

40

60

Strengthens my supportfor Israel against the

international criticism thatwill follow his cabinet

appointment

Weakens my personalconnection to Israel

because Lieberman'spositions go against my

core values

Has no impact on myfeelings toward Israel

Little Support for Connor…One-in-Three Would Feel Weaker Ties to Israel if Lieberman

Appointed to Cabinet

“If Avigdor Lieberman becomes a senior member of the Israeli cabinet and refuses to change his positions on Arab citizens of Israel, how would this affect your feelings toward Israel?”

Figure 33

40

56

40

20

40

60

Strengthens my support forIsrael against the

international criticism thatwill follow his cabinet

appointment

Weakens my personalconnection to Israel

because Lieberman'spositions go against my

core values

Has no impact on myfeelings toward Israel

Little Support for Connor…Opposition to Lieberman Among Jews Under 30

“If Avigdor Lieberman becomes a senior member of the Israeli cabinet and refuses to change his positions on Arab citizens of Israel, how would this affect your feelings toward Israel?”

Figure 34

Economic Impact on Charitable Giving


Figure 35

21

35

37

42

39

0 10 20 30 40 50

I have not and will not reduce my contributions toorganizations and political campaigns

I have reduced or will reduce my contributions tosynagogues or temples

I have reduced or will reduce my contributions toJewish organizations and charities

I have reduced or will reduce my contributions topolitical campaigns

I have reduced or will reduce my contributions tonon-Jewish organizations and charities

Nearly Two-Thirds Have Reduced Charitable Contributions

Figure 36

Bernard Madoff Impact


Figure 37

Impact of Madoff Scandal

55281726

17

2855

6 2

Yes, I have been personallyaffected

Yes, someone I know has beenaffected

Yes, an organization that Isupport has been affected

No, I have not been affectednor has any person I know ororganization I support

I do not know about the Madoffscandal

39% Total Affected

Documents

National survey of American Jews March 2009. Figure 1 J Street National Survey of American Jews Key Findings American Jews overwhelmingly support President