Younger Israelis appear more hopeful than those over 55 about figuring out a
strategy other than a two-state solution for Israel, according to B’nai B’rith’s
fifth annual Survey of Contemporary Israeli Attitudes toward World Jewry,
released Wednesday.
The survey gauged the reactions of 500 Israelis aged
18 and over to current issues, and their feelings about Diaspora
Jews.
“The results of the survey were significant, providing interesting
insights into Israeli attitudes,” B’nai B’rith World Center director Alan
Schneider said.
“Whereas Israelis were divided on particular policy
issues, especially those being put forth by Diaspora Jewish organizations, they
believe that those organizations that lobby on behalf of what they believe is
best for Israel should support the elected government,” he said. “They also
believe that unwavering support of Israel is not detrimental to Israel’s
longterm goals.”
Survey questions ranged from how apprehensive Israelis
were about the record number of anti- Semitic incidents in the Diaspora to the
main goal of the Jewish Agency: Should it be focusing on Jewish identity, or
concentrating on promoting aliya? One survey statement read: “A two-state
solution to the Israel- Palestinian conflict is essential to Israel’s survival
as a national home of the Jewish people as a vibrant democracy.” Fifty-five
percent agreed; 36 percent disagreed.
Mitchell Barak, who wrote the
survey and conducted the analysis, described the trend as even more interesting
when broken down by age.
Out of the 55 percent who said they supported
the two-state solution, only 40 percent of those in the 18-24 age group were in
favor; among 25-34-year-olds, 45% supported the idea, while among those 35-44,
support increased to 59 percent.
Among those 45-54, support dropped
slightly to 54 percent, then climbed among the 55-64 age group to 67%.
Sixty-five percent of those over 65 supported the two-state
solution.
“You can see definitely that those who are younger are less
likely to support the two-state solution,” said Barak. “It may indicate that
older people are worn out from the peace process and peace
negotiations.
Younger people seem readier to invest the time and effort
needed to come up with an alternative, he added.
Another survey
statement
(created by JCall’s “call for reason”) read: “It is essential that the
European
Union, along with the United States, put pressure on both parties and
help them
achieve a reasonable and rapid solution to the Israeli-Palestine
conflict.”
Forty-eight percent of those surveyed agreed, while
41%
disagreed.
“For Israelis to say our government should be
pressured – I
found that surprising,” Schneider told The Jerusalem Post.
“A lot
of
studies have been done on the attitude to Israel in the United States
and
elsewhere,” said Schneider. “What we thought was lacking was a
consistent
measuring of Israeli attitudes about the Jewish Diaspora.
“We’re
been
doing this [survey] for five years. We’re continuing to track this...
seeing how
trends might be changing over time.”