Beinart, Ben-Ami and Polls

From CAMERA's post:

...three different recent polls have disproven claims promoted by Peter Beinart and Jeremy Ben-Ami of J Street that the American Jewish community is increasingly alienated from Israel and that the traditional pro-Israel organizational establishment does not represent mainstream American Jewry...

In his Aug. 3 column, entitled "Seeking Balance on the Mideast," Kristof tenaciously grasps at Beinart/Ben-Ami's sinking ship of American Jewish diminishing support for Israel, writing:

Ben-Ami argues that "the loudest eight percent" have hijacked Jewish groups to press for policies that represent neither the Jewish mainstream nor the best interests of Israel. . .There's also some evidence that young American Jews are growing disenchanted as Israeli society turns rightward. . . ."What happens as Israel continues to become more religious and conservative, more isolated internationally and less democratic domestically?" Ben-Ami writes. "What happens to the relationship between American Jews and Israel as the face of Israel shifts from that of Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres to that of the national religious settlers and the ultra-Orthodox rabbis?"

Is it true, as Beinart, Ben-Ami and Kristof claim, that American Jews, mostly liberal, are better represented by J Street than by AIPAC? Is it true that the population is increasingly distanced from the Jewish state? Not according to three recent polls.

A May 16-17, 2011 poll of more than 1,000 American Jews conducted by Luntz Global on behalf of CAMERA found continuing, deep support for the Israel. CAMERA Executive Director Andrea Levin noted that the poll found: "The overwhelming majority of American Jews are cognizant of threats to Israel, protective of the country, cautious about risks and strongly opposed to such measures as boycotts, including boycotts of settlements."

...A second poll, carried out June 20-7, 2011 by the Dick Morris Poll revealed similar findings demonstrating strong Jewish American attachment to Israel and deep concern for its security. In particular, the poll found:

...Finally, a third poll of American Jews, carried out by Pat Caddell and John McLaughlin and release July 12, 2011, affirmed similar findings. Notably:

...81% are against Israel being forced to return to its pre-1967 borders [sic; they were armistice lines]
73% believe Jerusalem should remain the united capital of Israel and only 8% support that the US should force Israel to give away parts of Jerusalem

So much for Kristof 's fictional "hijacking" of American Jewish organizations by a loud fringe of hawks.

Who says that leftwing progressive liberal Jewish intelletuals know anything?

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