How Israelis See Obama

It’s not what you think -- and it may not even matter, compared to how they see Israel's own situation.

BY AMJAD ATALLAH, DANIEL LEVY | DECEMBER 11, 2009

Perhaps a U.S. president's approval rating among Israeli citizens is somewhat trivial. After all, Barack Obama's re-election will be decided in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, not in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Netanya. Nevertheless, the notion persists that a U.S. president's approval rating in Israel can significantly affect his ability to conclude a comprehensive peace agreement. That is why Obama's alleged rock-bottom 4 percent approval rating among Israelis -- a result within the margin of error -- has become cause for concern.

In fact, however, the number is a red herring. Our own survey results suggest that the stalemate in the peace agreement has little to do with Israeli perceptions of Obama -- which are far more favorable than one might think -- but is actually more deeply linked to Israeli complacency and comfort with the status quo.

The 4 percent figure, now a ubiquitous marker of Obama's failure in the Middle East, originally came from a Jerusalem Post survey this summer. But it wasn't an approval rating. The survey question asked whether Israelis believed Obama was "more pro-Israel," rather than "more pro-Palestinian" or neutral. The Western media have adopted this statistic (as in this recent New York Times editorial) often to argue that the president doesn't have the Israeli support necessary to bolster his efforts in the peace process.

But the number is misleading. To clarify Israeli public opinion, we commissioned a poll of 1,000 Israelis, undertaken by Gerstein Agne Strategic Communications and recently released by the New America Foundation, shedding new light on Obama's actual standing in Israel. And the bottom line is that, particularly given how little Obama has invested in speaking directly to the Israeli public, he is viewed in a relatively positive light. The favorability rating our results show, 41 percent (with 37 percent unfavorable) is 10 times that claimed by the Jerusalem Post. While this is not astronomically high for a U.S. president, it is notably stronger than the favorability ratings for Israel's foreign and defense ministers, and a mere seven points below that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This is not to say that Israelis don't have concerns about Obama: For instance, 50 percent believe he is weak on terrorism, and only 42 percent agree that he supports Israel.

In a panel this week at the New America Foundation, Gil Tamary of Israel's Channel 10 News explained that much of Obama's relative unpopularity in Israel is a direct consequence of the Israeli press's daily attacks on him. But based on our survey results, should Obama decide to make a direct pitch to the Israeli public, his starting position would be one of relative strength. Obama has not yet reached out to Israelis in the way he has to the Muslim world, with his historic trips to Egypt and Turkey. A similarly momentous state visit to Israel could build a tremendous amount of goodwill with an already receptive Israeli public.

JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images

 

Amjad Atallah and Daniel Levy are co-directors of the Middle East Task Force at the New America Foundation.

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BURNINGCHROME

12:29 AM ET

December 12, 2009

A few corrections

1) There is NO 1949 Border! It was an armistice line!, in this case between Jordan and Israel, and that armistice agreement specifically rejected the then existing green line as a border. I would hope that as representatives of a think tank you would at least get your facts correct.

2) Israel doesn't contemplate a return of 500,000 Israelis because most are in the so called large 'settlement blocks' that will become part of Israel.

The land these 'settlements' sit on, populated or otherwise would never be turned over to the PA. Contrary to the myth that they are the best agricultural lands in the West Bank, they are rocky mountain tops that have been uninhabited over the last 6000 years because they have no value as farm land. They are composed primarily of rock and there is little or no water resources to support a population until the introduction of modern technology.

The only real value these hills have is strategic in that they look down on central area of Israel where the majority of the population lives. Control of these mountain tops by an adversary puts the Israeli army at a severe disadvantage and exposes the entire population of central Israel to an unacceptable risk.

It should also be noted that when the original UN partition plane was drawn up these mountains were assigned to Israel not the Palestinians.

There is a very broad consensus that these strategic heights will stay in Israel no matter what. That is the view from the left to the right in Israel. Even the extreme left about 3% of the electorate where there is some support for the armistice line being the border is split on this.

That is where the so called Taba understandings come to play. Israel will keep 2-3% of the West Bank and swap territory.

Keeping these mountain tops is consistent with UN resolution 242 which guarantees Israel a defensible border and numerous understandings between Israel and the US.

The presentation of the settlements as a zero sum game is a false presentation of the conflict. The settlements are not all the same nor do they all have support from the population. The nation supports the main settlements on the strategic highlands and wants the rest to disappear.

The feelings mainly on the Israeli side is that this is going to be a very contentious withdrawal. So absent a Peace Agreement with the PA or a nascent Palestinian state most people don't want all the trouble such a huge civil confrontation will invariably set off with out something to show for it. It is not that people are satisfied with the status quo, so wish to maintain it.

If the Palestinians would sign a peace agreement today, tomorrow Israelis will assume the full burden of Israelis outside the borders and any civilian upheaval that encompasses.

 

SCOTTGOOSE

3:07 AM ET

December 14, 2009

Saved me the trouble of ranting

Well bowled, sir. You said more or less what I would have. Good to see a pro-israeli FP reader. They seem few and far between, based solely on the amount of pro-palestinian rantings compared to the rare Israeli counter-arguments. Good show sir.

 

COMMENTATOR

7:03 PM ET

December 15, 2009

Why few pro-Israeli voices here

The reason there are so few pro-Israeli voices in the commentary here is that unlike the magazine itself, the comments section relating to Israel has largely become the home for thinly disguised anti-semitic screeds, and irrational Israel-bashing without a scintilla of evidence. Repeated exposure of the lies gets ignored; in the end what these polemicists write will be suitable only for wrapping fish, and has little influence on policy. If Israel has thrived despite the Arabists in the State Department, it can survive a few special pleaders here.

Lies and falsehoods are common among the commentators, and we should not be surprised at the bias of some of the editors and columnists; after all even the distinguished Council on Foreign Relations (of which I was a member before retiring) had its Henry Siegman.
The falsehoods and suppression of material facts here go pretty much unchallenged by any semblance of a moderator. The Palestinian "narrative", which is filled with outright historical and legal falsifications, finds sympathy among a noticeable portion of the magazine's editorial staff. For example, that they should provide a home for such as Steven Walt, who has publicly discredited himself repeatedly on Israel-related matters, is evidence not of balance or fairness but of bias.

 

COMMENTATOR

7:58 PM ET

December 15, 2009

Someone is either ignorant or careless

One would think that the original writers, Atallah and Levy (presumably and Arab and a Jew) of the piece that started this thread, if they claim to be expert on Israel, the West Bank and Gaza (in which areas Hebrew is a lingua franca), would know at least enough rudimentary Hebrew to recognize that the photograph used is reversed (based on the caption in the photo).

 

F1FAN

10:52 AM ET

December 14, 2009

I stopped caring long ago

About Israelis that is. They don't care about us in America all they want is our tax dollars to flow into their pockets uninterrupted and unconditionally.

 

JAYSONREX

6:35 PM ET

December 14, 2009

I also stopped caring about ... ignorant opinions

I don't know much about tax dollars but as far as OIL dollars are concerned, Americans and Europeans are supporting ALL Arab-Muslim countries "uninterrupted and unconditionally" and, I might add, 'unlimitedly'.
In return and as a sign of eternal gratitude, we managed to aquire, as a Christian nation, an implacable enemy that goes by the name Islam.
Maybe giving reality rather than fantasy a little more credence will help people better understand what truly happens in this world.

 

F1FAN

9:16 AM ET

December 15, 2009

I agree with that

America should be seeking it's energy independence as well. Giving money and weapons to the Israel does not help the US in that respect.

It is very interesting that your reaction to my indifference to Israel makes you automatically assume that I am somehow some sort of Islamist.

Unlike you, I am a loyal American and I believe that American tax dollars and foreign policy should first and foremost serve Americans, not Israel, not Saudi Arabia, not Pakistan. American foreign policy should be continually reassessed and adjust foreign aid for just how much support we get from the countries it goes to. We give Israel billions and get nothing in return, the same goes for Pakistan , Iraq, Afghanistan................

 

CARTILAGE

3:48 PM ET

December 15, 2009

tax dollars

Yes they want our tax dollars, but they want it in euros. why don't americans know this? yes that's right, our charity to israel is no good unless it's handed over to them in euros. for israelis, beggars can be choosers. and for uneducated christian that is complaining about the islam enemy, read a history book and then come back and make an informed statement. fox news doesn't cut it anymore

 

COMMENTATOR

7:28 PM ET

December 15, 2009

What we get in return

"We give Israel billions and get nothing in return"

We get more Israeli Nobel Laureates per capita than any country other than the US. We get massive breakthroughs in medicine and pharmaceuticals that save hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of American lives. We get repeated breakthroughs in science and technology. We get some of the world's greatest musicians, who entertain Americans and contribute to American musical life and teaching. We get major agricultural breakthroughs, shared with the US and the world. We get modern computers based on Intel's latest family of chips invented in Israel. We get high security based on Israeli cryptographic research. We get a shining example of economic development which brings credit to us and discredits dictatorial regimes who eventually will have to answer to their citizens.

Uh, er, um, what have the Palestinians done for us lately except for killing Americans, including American civilian women, children, and the elderly? The Palestinians can't even get along with their "brother Arabs". They tried to overthrow the government of Kuwait and got kicked out. They tried to overthrow the government of Jordan and got kicked out. They tried to overthrow the government of Lebanon and got kicked out. Wherever they go, there they are. Maybe, just maybe, the problem is the Palestinians, not the Israelis.

 

SABABA03

9:55 PM ET

January 1, 2010

When it comes to knowing the act

I hope it is not late to post another Israeli pov.
One important element to which many readers perhaps are not aware of.

You see, on one side you have us the Israelis (I am an American-Israeli). We live in a system where freedom of expression, and independence of press (except on matters of national security) rain supreme. We have access to all publication, where we can read all opinions and pov's, then judge for ourselves. In Israel there are no taboos on any particular subject (again, except for national security). Politics, social, race, and religion, all open topics to debate, agree or disagree.

Since almost all of us also serve in the military, we do come in contact with the Palestinians in the territories, as part of the service. We talk to them, listen to their grievances, and wishes. We also get to listen to what they really think of us as Jews. Although, as solders we can not engage in matters of state politics, we do nonetheless, gain direct and personal experience with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In lieu of all these facts, our government can not mislead us on what really is happening "over there". Therefore, we mostly post here from our own eye witness account, rather then a government dictated propaganda.

On the other side thought, you have the Arab & Islamic populations. all of whom live in one sort of dictatorship or another. Since the amount of true information available to them (as well to those who live in the west) is severely controlled, by and large, they post opinions which has been packages for them by the massive Arab propaganda machine.

There is another element here. true to the form "if it bleeds, it leads (or sells more copies)". Since more blood was spilled in Gaza then in Sderot, western publication like FP rush to join the chorus.

 

WESTCOASTRESEARCHER

3:01 AM ET

January 2, 2010

Pro Israel ....the world needs more leaders like Bebe Netanyahu

~Obama needs to listen closely to Netanyahu. (experience matters)~

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Benjamin Netanyahu is, in my opinion, a fantastic leader. When I first heard him speak in the 90s, I thought how refreshing it was to hear a blunt and stern voice. The jewish people of Israel have had to put up with so much crap from Arabs and muslims....you just have to wonder at how amazingly patient the technically superior Israelis have been... not responding more forcefully. The fact that Iran is either very near...or...already has weapons of mass destruction...AND THEY VOW TO DESTROY ISRAEL ? .....good lord.
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Pounce !
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I think the time is very near where the Iranian leader, mouse that he is, will have to be taught a lesson. Barking and loud dogs tend to get the water hose. I hope Netanyahu strikes soon. In 1981 they did just that and it proved to be profoundly important. I wish we lived in a more peaceful world, but people like the Palestinians and the Taliban still exist. They strike first almost always. Thank God they both have very low intellectual capacity toward engineering and weaponry.....Call it Karma....The fact that Iran is rapidly increasing their capacity for nuclear grade materials production..that alone should be a strong impetus for a laser strike in the two locations where we know they are manufacturing currently....as well as where it looks like they are building their newest "secret" location.
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It is clear that Obama is not strongly pro-Israel, eventhough he claimed it in the election. The Israeli people know this all too well, but like many moderate Republicans like myself, we keep hoping Obama will see the light and become a "tough realist". Obama's penchant for thoughtful analysis seems to lead directly toward stilted paralysis. I grew very tired of Bush. He nearly detroyed the Republican party. I hope Obama does better and finds some toughness and rigidity in his spine. I really do.
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Israel should strike NOW ! (we, under Obama, are rather feckless)