Abstract
This study explores the rift between American Jews and Israel that has emerged in the last 20 years. It does so via empirical research of national and regional public opinion surveys conducted among American Jews. Views of Israel were measured through attachment and caring for Israel, and attitudes toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were measured by sympathies for the sides and support for the establishment of a Palestinian State. The study also presents sociodemographic data and analysis. The results only partially support the “distancing hypothesis,” which says that American Jews have been increasingly distancing themselves from Israel, and they do not consider Israel any longer a significant part of their Jewish identity. Instead, the work found erosion of support for Israel, especially among young and liberal American Jews. The deep political polarization in American politics, the close relationship between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Republican leadership, the tilt to the left of the Democratic party, and Israeli domestic politics and relations with the Palestinians were mostly responsible for this erosion.
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Gilboa, E., Bloch-Elkon, Y. (2022). The Rift Between American Jews and Israel. In: Kumaraswamy, P.R. (eds) The Palgrave International Handbook of Israel. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-2717-0_71-1
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