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ADL Survey Shows American Jews Overwhelmingly Supported Israel's Gaza Action

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Scurrilous Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 02:42 PM
Original message
ADL Survey Shows American Jews Overwhelmingly Supported Israel's Gaza Action
Edited on Tue Feb-03-09 02:42 PM by Scurrilous
<snip>

"American Jews overwhelmingly supported Israel in its actions against Hamas in Gaza, according to a national survey conducted for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The findings strongly contradict the notion that surfaced during the war in Gaza that American Jews were divided in their attitudes, with suggestions that many were critical of Israel.

The telephone survey of 400 American Jewish adults was conducted between January 13-19, 2009 (with a hiatus Friday evening-Saturday for the Jewish Sabbath) for ADL by The Marttila Communications Group, and has a margin of error of +/-4.9%.

Survey Highlights

• 94% expressed sympathy for Israel over Hamas; only 1% for Hamas (graph). By denomination breakdown: Orthodox - 98% expressed sympathy for Israel; Conservative - 96%; Reform - 91%.

• 81% expressed the belief that Hamas was responsible for the escalation of the violence; only 14% held Israel responsible (graph). By denomination breakdown: Orthodox - 84% held Hamas responsible, Conservative - 88%, Reform - 77%; non-practicing 77%.

• Asked whether Israel's response to Hamas rockets was appropriate or excessive, probably the major theme that has appeared in international critiques of Israel, 79% said it was appropriate, 17% excessive (graph). By denomination breakdown: Orthodox - 88%, appropriate, Conservative - 80%, Reform - 80% and non-practicing - 71%

• When asked about Israel's right to self-defense versus the need to win the "hearts and minds" of the Arab world, 79% said that Israel's responsibility to protect its citizens takes precedence (graph).

"The survey findings strongly contradict those who disagreed with Israel's actions against Hamas and claimed there was a sharp division in the American Jewish community," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director."

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/IslME_62/5455_62.htm
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Idealism Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 02:43 PM
Response to Original message
1. Clever wording of the study; Palestinians are not mentioned once
It is always only about harming Hamas, not even a mention of the collateral damage...
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Howardx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 03:01 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. not to mention the study was done by the ADL
making it completely biased and worthless.
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Idealism Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 03:03 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Biased, of course. Worthless, perhaps
I don't think information is worthless even if it is biased, because you can always infer what others are thinking from their responses. Certainly, this material is not something to cite in an argument, but good for knowledge sake
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GoesTo11 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 04:09 PM
Response to Reply #2
17. ADL = Right wing zionist propaganda
Edited on Tue Feb-03-09 04:16 PM by GoesTo11
ADL, JDL, same thing, right?

Here are some examples of their bullshit (from Wikipedia)

Fighting anti-Semitism, bigotry, and racism

The stated purpose of the ADL is to fight "Anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry (in the United States) and abroad, combat international terrorism, probe the roots of hatred, advocate before the United States Congress, come to the aid of victims of bigotry, develop educational programs, and serve as a public resource for government, media, law enforcement, and the public, all towards the goal of countering and reducing hatred."

Historically, the ADL has opposed groups and individuals it considered to be anti-Semitic and/or racist, including: Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, Henry Ford, Father Charles Coughlin (leader of the Christian Front), the Christian Identity movement, the German-American Bund, neo-Nazis, the American militia movement and white power skinheads (note that the ADL acknowledges that there are also non-racist skinheads).<5><6>

Separation of church and state

One of the ADL's major issues is religious freedom for people of all faiths.<10> In the context of public schools, the ADL has taken the position that because Creationism and Intelligent design are religious beliefs, and the government is prohibited from endorsing the beliefs of any particular religion, they should not be taught in science classrooms: "The U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of Americans to believe the religious theories of creation (as well as other theories) but it does not permit them to be taught in public school science classes."<11> Similarly, the ADL supports the legal precedent that it is unconstitutional for the government to post the Ten Commandments in courthouses, schools, and other public places: "True religious liberty means freedom from having the government impose the religion of the majority on all citizens."<12> The ADL has also condemned the public school Bible curriculum published by the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools, saying that it raises "serious constitutional problems" and "advocates the acceptance of one faith tradition's interpretation of the Bible over another."<13>

Defending other religions

As its goal is to defend not only Jews, but also "all citizens alike and to put an end forever to unjust and unfair discrimination against and ridicule of any sect or body of citizens," the ADL has periodically made statements against misrepresentations of other faiths. For example, when the anti-Mormon film "The God Makers" was produced, Rhonda M. Abrams, Central Pacific (San Francisco) Regional Director for the ADL wrote a critical review, including the following statement:

"Had a similar movie been made with either Judaism or Catholicism as its target, it would be immediately denounced for the scurrilous piece that it is. I sincerely hope that people of all faiths will similarly repudiate "The Godmakers" as defamatory and untrue, and recognize it for what it truly represents—a challenge to the religious liberty of all."

Interfaith camp

ADL's New England Regional Office has also established a faith-based initiative called "The Interfaith Youth Leadership Program," better known as "Camp If," or Camp Interfaith. Involving teenagers of the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic faiths, the camp brings the teens together for a week at camp where the teens bond and learn about each other's cultures. The camp has emerged as a new attempt to foster good relations between younger members of the Abrahamic faiths.<24>



Relations with Arabs and Muslims

ADL publications on condemning bigotry towards Arabs, Muslims, Blacks and members of other minorities have often been used in synagogue adult education programs, and as part of Jewish-Christian and Jewish-Muslim inter-faith dialogue.


Relations with African-Americans

The ADL has worked to combat racism against all racial groups, including racism against blacks. In 1997, the National Center for Black-Jewish Relations of Dillard University, a historically black university in New Orleans awarded the director of the ADL, Abraham H. Foxman, with the first Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. - Donald R. Mintz Freedom and Justice Award.

In 2004 the ADL became the lead partner in the Peace and Diversity Academy, a new New York City public high school with predominantly black and Hispanic students.

In celebration of Black History Month, the ADL created and distributed lesson plans to middle and high school teachers about Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the US Congress, and an important civil rights leader.
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 03:22 PM
Response to Reply #1
6. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
Idealism Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 03:24 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. You might want to rethink that statement
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bunnies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 03:39 PM
Response to Reply #6
9. You equate Palestinians to DOGS?!
No mention of Palestinians killed = no mention of puppies killed?!

What kind of sick, heartless, bigoted shit is THAT?! :nuke:
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LeftishBrit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 04:08 PM
Response to Reply #6
16. What have 'puppies' to do with it?
And who aren't prepared to risk their people - the Israelis, the people being surveyed, or the poster to whom you responded? It's not very clear.
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bunnies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 03:15 PM
Response to Original message
4. 79% said what they did to Gaza was appropriate?!
Nice. Real fucking nice.
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Howardx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 03:17 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. that 79% are just bad apples
very fringe, they dont represent jewish american opinion :sarcasm:
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bunnies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 03:36 PM
Response to Reply #5
8. Yeah.
Must be some sort of fluke. They called the list of "assholes" instead.

What the fuck is wrong with people?!
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LeftishBrit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 04:00 PM
Response to Reply #5
13. Yes, just like the 79% of Americans who supported the Iraq War at the beginning...
Edited on Tue Feb-03-09 04:09 PM by LeftishBrit
didn't really represent mainstream American opinion. It's only Jews who can support militarism!

more :sarcasm:

And: the Israeli action in Gaza was a disproportionate (IMO) response to actual attacks. The American/British action in Iraq was a response to NO attacks.
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IndianaGreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 03:54 PM
Response to Original message
10. A majority of Americans supported PATRIOT and invasion of Iraq
When people are frightened out of their minds and remain ignorant of the facts, with considerable help from their own governments, they will accept on faith whatever they are told.
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LeftishBrit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 04:01 PM
Response to Reply #10
14. delete (dupe)
Edited on Tue Feb-03-09 04:03 PM by LeftishBrit
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LeftishBrit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 04:03 PM
Response to Reply #10
15. Excellent points!
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Madam Mossfern Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 03:56 PM
Response to Original message
11. Was it a sampling
of those Jewish people who support the JDL?
Where did they get their list?
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GoesTo11 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 05:05 PM
Response to Reply #11
22. JDL is totally different than ADL
ADL is the Anti-Defamation League, which is a longtime champion for fair treatment of all minorities, not just Jews. Buddies with ACLU types.

JDL is the Jewish Defense League, which was founded by Meir Kahane. Related to Israel's current extremist extremist right.
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Madam Mossfern Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 09:44 PM
Response to Reply #22
23. Oops
My bad, I meant ADL.
I'm still curious about the sampling.
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LeftishBrit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 03:58 PM
Response to Original message
12. I would like to know a bit more about the sampling...
but also, what proportion of American NON-Jews supported the action. It's my impression that a high proportion of Americans in general support military actions by allies.
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Jefferson23 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 04:24 PM
Response to Original message
18. From the article:
"The telephone survey of 400 American Jewish adults was conducted between January 13-19, 2009 (with a hiatus Friday evening-Saturday for the Jewish Sabbath) for ADL by The Marttila Communications Group, and has a margin of error of +/-4.9%."

John Mattila did a survey back in 2005 when Bush was trying to gain support for privatizing Social Security. Mattila and other pollsters found that there was indeed substantial support for some Social Security funds to be invested in the stock market. He attributed this to the public's perception, he added, "The program has been subjected to a focused campaign of criticism by leading Republicans for years. And recently, a confidential memo from White House strategist Peter Wehner revealed the administration's hand. “Right now we are on an unsustainable course,” it warned. “That reality needs to be seared into the public consciousness.”

Interesting too that when the question was framed differently, the support drops significantly:

"When specifically told that benefits would be reduced if the stock market drops, 62 percent of respondents opposed the privatization idea." http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?articleId=9032

The ADL survey also doesn't appear to indicate how these 400 were selected.

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Scurrilous Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 04:28 PM
Response to Reply #18
20. Thanks.
:thumbsup:
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Vegasaurus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 04:26 PM
Response to Original message
19. You might be surprised to find
that many Jewish Democrats are members of the ADL.
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GoesTo11 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Feb-03-09 05:02 PM
Response to Reply #19
21. self-pimping
See post 17 to understand how this is possible.
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