AJC Annual Survey of American Jews: Rising Concerns Over Iran's Nuclear Program; Generally Positive Outlook on U.S.-Israel Relations; Strong Support for Israel as a Jewish State

NEW YORK, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new AJC survey of American Jews reveals growing doubts over the prospects for a peaceful resolution of the nuclear standoff with Iran; a prevailing skepticism regarding the prospects for advancing Arab-Israeli peace; and a generally positive outlook on current U.S.-Israel relations. The full 2009 AJC Survey of American Jewish Opinion is available at www.ajc.org.

"Clearly concerns are mounting over the international community's apparent inability to deploy tough and resolute sanctions to confront a belligerent Iran determined to build nuclear weapons and missiles to deliver them," said AJC Executive Director David Harris.

The AJC survey revealed that 56 percent of American Jews would support, and 36 percent would oppose, United States military action against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. A year ago, the AJC survey found that 42 percent would support the U.S. taking military action against Iran, while 47 percent were opposed.

On the Obama Administration's general handling of the Iran nuclear issue, 49 percent of American Jews approve and 35 percent disapprove.

And, in another sign of heightening concern about Iran's nuclear program, 66 percent would support, and 28 percent would oppose, Israel taking military action against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.

AJC has conducted its survey of American Jews annually since 1997. In addition to Iran's nuclear program, the 2009 survey probed attitudes towards Arab-Israeli peace, the current state of U.S.-Israel relations, and worldwide anti-Semitism.

"AJC surveys have consistently shown that American Jews yearn for Arab-Israeli peace, and back compromise through negotiations, but remain skeptical of Arab intentions, and disheartened by a tough environment in the Middle East, especially with Arab refusal to recognize Israel's very legitimacy," Harris said.

On the prospects for achieving a lasting peace between Israel and the Arabs, only 12 percent are more optimistic than a year ago, 23 percent are less optimistic, and 65 percent think the chances are the same.

In response to a new AJC survey question, 94 percent of American Jews agree that the Palestinians should be "required to recognize Israel as a Jewish state in a final peace agreement."

Demonstrating American Jews' skepticism of Arab intentions regarding Israel, 75 percent agree, and 19 percent disagree, with the statement, "The goal of the Arabs is not the return of occupied territories but rather the destruction of Israel." In the 2007 survey, 82 percent agreed and 12 percent disagreed.

Nonetheless, regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state, 49 percent favor that outcome, and 41 percent are opposed. In AJC's 2007 survey, 46 percent were in favor and 43 percent opposed.

When asked whether Israel, in the framework of a permanent peace with the Palestinians, should be willing to compromise on the status of Jerusalem as a united city under Israeli jurisdiction, 37 percent are in favor, and 58 percent opposed. In 2007, 36 percent answered yes and 58 percent no.

"While ideologically-driven Jewish groups of the left and right assert that a majority of American Jews share their views on the Middle East, it just isn't true. The AJC survey results reveal very clearly that, in fact, the bulk of American Jews hold largely centrist views, at times tilting to the left, at other times tilting to the right," said Harris. "This has been largely true in recent years, regardless of who is in power in Washington and Jerusalem."

Eleven percent of American Jews, according to the AJC survey, characterize relations between Israel and the United States as "very positive" and 70 percent "somewhat positive" nine months after President Obama's inauguration and seven months after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed his government. In contrast, 14 percent characterize U.S.-Israel relations as "somewhat negative" and 2 percent "very negative."

Fifty-four percent of U.S. Jews approve, and 32 percent disapprove, of the Obama Administration's handling of U.S.-Israel relations. Meanwhile, 59 percent approve, and 23 percent disapprove, of the Netanyahu government's handling of U.S.-Israel relations.

Among age segments, AJC found little distinction in approval of the Obama Administration's handling of U.S.-Israel relations, with 54 percent of those under 40; 57 percent aged 40-59; and 49 percent over 60 expressing approval.

On the other hand, denominational affiliation appears to be a key factor in determining attitudes. While majorities of Conservative (54 percent) and Reform Jews (59 percent) approve, only 14 percent of Orthodox Jews approve of the Obama Administration's handling of U.S.-Israel relations.

President Obama won 78 percent of the Jewish vote in the 2008 elections.

Much discussion in recent months has focused on the Obama administration's public criticism of Israeli settlements, a stance opposed by a majority of American Jews.

The AJC survey found that a majority, 51 percent of U.S. Jews, disagree with the Obama Administration's call for a stop to all new Israeli settlement construction, while 41 percent agree with that tactic.

Disapproval is fairly consistent among age segments -- 49 percent of those under 40 disapprove and 38 percent approve; 53 percent ages 40-59 disapprove and 42 percent approve; and 51 percent over 60 disapprove, while 41 percent approve.

Among the denominations, 74 percent of Orthodox, 62 percent of Conservative, and 46 percent of Reform Jews disapprove of the call for a full settlement freeze. In contrast, 21 percent of Orthodox, 33 percent of Conservative and 45 percent of Reform approve.

Still, there is wide recognition among American Jews that the question of settlements is a topic to be resolved in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. When put in that context, most American Jews say Israel should be willing to dismantle all (8 percent) or some (52 percent) of the settlements as part of a permanent peace settlement with the Palestinians. Thirty-seven percent oppose dismantling any.

American Jews continue to view global anti-Semitism as a serious problem that is likely to increase over the next several years. Fifty-six percent say anti-Semitism is a "very serious problem" and 43 percent "somewhat of a problem." Looking ahead, 45 percent say anti-Semitism around the world will increase, 42 percent remain the same, and 10 percent decrease.

The 2009 survey was conducted for AJC by Synovate (formerly Market Facts), a leading opinion-research organization. Respondents were interviewed by telephone between August 30 - September 17, 2009. The 800 respondents are representative of the United States adult Jewish population on a variety of measures. The margin of error from the sample as a whole is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

All AJC annual surveys on American Jewish opinion from 2000 to 2009 are available at www.ajc.org.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee