'Majority of US Jews worried about Obama Israel policies'

Among those polled, 65 percent voted for Obama, 24% for John McCain, and 5% did not vote, or voted for someone else.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
PM Netanyahu with US President Obama at White House 311 (photo credit: Avi Ohayon / GPO)
PM Netanyahu with US President Obama at White House 311
(photo credit: Avi Ohayon / GPO)
American Jews still have a favorable opinion of Obama, but are concerned about his policies regarding Israel’s future, a comprehensive bipartisan poll of 600 likely American- Jewish voters indicated. The poll, sponsored by SecureAmericaNow, was taken by Republican pollsters McLaughlin & Associates and Democrat Pat Caddell.
Among those polled, 65 percent voted for Obama, 24% for John McCain, and 5% did not vote, or voted for someone else. Sixtyfour percent had a favorable opinion of Obama and approved of his general performance.
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But only 43% would vote to re-elect Obama, while 48% would consider voting for someone else, and 9% are undecided.
And when it comes to Israel – which a plurality said was the most important issue to them – the poll found problematic numbers for Obama.
Indeed, two-thirds of those polled said they would be concerned about Obama’s policies toward Israel if he were re-elected.
Meanwhile, 81% said they were against Israel being forced to return to pre-1967 lines, which Obama said should be the basis for talks, with land swaps.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) believe Jerusalem should remain the undivided capital of Israel. Only 8% think the US should force Israel to give parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority.
Sixty-four percent believe that if the PA was given its own state in the West Bank, part of Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, the Palestinians would try to destroy Israel with terror. Only 16% think the Palestinians would coexist peacefully with Israel.
An overwhelming majority – 88.5% – agree with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s position that before the PA is given its own country, it must first recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.
Respondents were strongly pro- Netanyahu, with 65% viewing him favorably and 20% unfavorably.
Asked whether Obama was more pro- Israel or pro-Palestinian, 43% said they were unsure. Among those with an opinion, 31% thought he favored the Palestinians, and just 26% said he was more pro- Israel.
The recent numbers are more favorable to Obama than The Jerusalem Post-sponsored polls that asked Israelis the same question.
According to the last Smith research poll published in the Post on May 27, just 12% of Israeli Jews said Obama was more pro- Israel, 40% said he was more pro-Palestinian, 34% said he was neutral, and 13% did not express an opinion.