Israel Today
Thursday, July 22, 2010 Israel Today Staff
Americans: Israel an ally, relations will worsen
A poll conducted earlier this month by Rasmussen Reports revealed that a
firm 58 percent majority of Americans view Israel as an ally, despite
growing efforts by ultra-liberal and Muslim movements to paint the Jewish
state
as a manipulative enemy.
Only 5 percent of respondents characterized Israel as an enemy, while 32
percent said the Jewish state falls somewhere in between friend and foe.
However, 31 percent of those surveyed said they believe relations between
Israel and the US will significantly worsen over the next 12 months.
During the first half of this year, tensions between Washington and
Jerusalem reached what some diplomats described as a breaking point as the
Obama
Administration harshly criticized Israel for approving routine Jewish
building projects in the Israeli capital.
With a crucial mid-term congressional election approaching, Obama changed
his tune and played nice with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the
Israeli leader's recent visit to the White House. But most Israelis saw
through the ruse, and continue to distrust the president.
After the election, Israelis fully expect Obama to renew heavy pressure on
Israel to meet dangerous Arab demands for "peace." As his approval ratings
dip, Obama is in need of a perceived diplomatic victory, and none could be
greater than overseeing an Israel-Palestinian peace agreement.
But the past year has shown that as Obama cranks up the pressure, Israelis
only become more hardened in their support for political parties that will
not surrender to demands that endanger the future of their nation. The end
result is political tension that could eventually trickle down to the
masses.
--
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