Israelis are divided over whether US involvement in the Middle East peace
process has had a positive or negative impact, according to a study released on
Wednesday.
About a third of respondents who took part in a poll
commissioned by B’nai B’rith World Center said Washington has impeded progress,
a third said it has facilitated it and another third said they did not
know.
KEEVOON Research conducted the Internet survey on June 20 with 507
Israeli Jews age 18 or older, with a 4.5 percent margin of
error.
Israelis strongly supported government investment in the Diaspora,
which would in effect reverse the traditional flow of Jewish funds to Israel
from the Diaspora. About 80% said they would condone expenditure on programs
like Masa and Taglit- Birthright, which bring young adults to Israel on short
visits and sojourns.
On the question of whether Israeli tax-payer money
should be spent on helping Diaspora Jews’ needs during a time of recession, a
46% to 43% majority was in favor of diverting funds towards their brethren in
other countries. The majority of respondents added that the long-term solution
to problems of Jewish communities overseas was immigrating to Israel.