American Public Opinion Polls: Attitudes of American Jews
(September 2011)
Click to Jump:
On the Obama Administration
On the Arab-Israeli Conflict
On International Issues and War in Iraq
Other Background Factors
The Obama Administration
Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Barack Obama has handled his job as President?
Approve | 45% |
Disapprove | 48% |
Not sure | 7% |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama has handled each of the following?
Approve | Disapprove | Not sure | |
The Economy | 37% | 60% | 4% |
National Security | 68% | 28% | 4% |
Energy Policy | 50% | 43% | 7% |
Immigration | 43% | 49% | 8% |
Foreign Policy | 47% | 48% | 0.5% |
How would you characterize relations between Israel and the United States today?
Very positive | 7% |
Somewhat positive | 56% |
Somewhat negative | 29% |
Very negative | 7% |
Not sure | 1% |
Do you approve or disapprove of the Obama Administration's handling of U.S.-Israel relations?
Approve | 40% |
Disapprove | 53% |
Not sure | 7% |
If the 2012 election for president were being held today, whom would you vote for from among the following choices?
a. Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate and Mitt Romney is the Republican candidate - Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, or neither?
Obama | 50% |
Romney | 32% |
Neither | 16% |
Don't know/not sure | 2% |
b. Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate and Rick Perry is the Republican candidate - Barack Obama, Rick Perry, or neither?
Obama | 55% |
Perry | 25% |
Neither | 18% |
Don't know/not sure | 2% |
c. Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate and Michele Bachmann is the Republican candidate? Obama, Bachmann, or neither?
Obama | 59% |
Bachmann | 19% |
Neither | 21% |
Don't know/not sure | 1% |
d. Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate and Chris Christie is the Republican candidate? Barack Obama, Chris Christie, or neither?
Obama | 53% |
Christie | 26% |
Neither | 19% |
Don't know/not sure | 3% |
Arab-Israel Conflict
As compared with one year ago, are you more optimistic about the chance for a lasting peace between Israel and the Arabs, less optimistic, or do you think the chance for a lasting peace is about the same as it was one year ago?
More optimistic | 3% |
Less optimistic | 35% |
Same as one year ago | 62% |
Not sure | 0.4% |
In the current situation, do you favor or oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state?
Favor | 38% |
Oppose | 55% |
Not sure | 8% |
Do you approve or disapprove of Palestinian efforts to unilaterally seek statehood without reaching an agreement with Israel?
Approve | 9% |
Disapprove | 88% |
Not sure | 3% |
In the framework of a permanent peace with the Palestinians, should Israel:
Compromise on the status of Jerusalem as a united city under Israeli jurisdiction?
Yes | 37% |
No | 59% |
Not sure | 4% |
As part of a permanent settlement with the Palestinians, should Israel:
Dismantle all, some, or none of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank?
All | 8% |
Some | 51% |
None | 39% |
Not sure | 2% |
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
"The goal of the Arabs is not the return of occupied territories but rather the destruction of Israel."
Agree | 76% |
Disagree | 19% |
Not sure | 5% |
If the Palestinian Authority and Hamas form a unity government, should the U.S. Congress withdraw aid to the Palestinians or not?
Withdraw | 73% |
Not withdraw | 21% |
Not sure | 6% |
Should the Palestinians be required or not be required to recognize Israel as a Jewish state in a final peace agreement?
Required | 96% |
Not required | 3% |
Not sure | 1% |
International Issues
Do you think that anti-Semitism is currently a very serious problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem at all in the following areas?
Very Serious Problem | Somewhat of a Problem | Not a Problem at all | Not sure | |
Europe | 42% | 50% | 5% | 3% |
Arab/Muslim World | 87% | 11% | 1% | 0.4% |
United States | 14% | 70% | 16% | 0.3% |
Internet | 25% | 42% | 19% | 14% |
Do you approve or disapprove of the Obama Administration's handling of the Iran nuclear issue?
Approve | 43% |
Disapprove | 45% |
Not sure | 11% |
How much of a chance do you think there is that a combination of diplomacy and sanctions can stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons?
Good chance | 4% |
Some chance | 25% |
Little chance | 43% |
No chance | 28% |
Not sure | 0.5% |
If diplomacy and sanctions fail, would you support or oppose the United States taking military action
against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons?
Support | 56% |
Oppose | 38% |
Not sure | 6% |
If diplomacy and sanctions fail, would you support or oppose Israel taking military action
against Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons?
Support | 68% |
Oppose | 26% |
Not sure | 6% |
Do you think the United States is winning or losing the war in Iraq?
Winning | 38% |
Losing | 46% |
Not sure | 16% |
Do you think the United States is winning or losing the war in Afghanistan?
Winning | 26% |
Losing | 61% |
Not sure | 13% |
With regard to the following countries, are you optimistic or pessimistic about the current direction they are taking?
Optimistic | Pessimistic | Not sure | |
Saudi Arabia | 30% | 58% | 12% |
Syria | 18% | 75% | 8% |
Egypt | 42% | 52% | 6% |
Libya | 39% | 54% | 7% |
Turkey | 35% | 51% | 15% |
Jordan | 49% | 36% | 15% |
Background Factors
In politics as of today, are you a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?
Republican | 16% |
Democrat | 45% |
Independent | 38% |
Not sure | 2% |
I am going to read you a list of political views that people might hold.
Where would you place yourself on this scale?
Extremely liberal | 5% |
Liberal | 22% |
Slightly liberal | 14% |
Moderate, middle of the road | 32% |
Slightly conservative | 10% |
Conservative | 12% |
Extremely conservative | 3% |
Not sure | 1% |
Do you think of yourself as...
Orthodox | 9% |
Conservative | 22% |
Reform | 29% |
Reconstructionist | 1% |
Just Jewish | 37% |
Not sure | 1% |
How important would you say being Jewish is in your own life?
Very important | 50% |
Fairly important | 36% |
Not very important | 14% |
Not sure | 0.1% |
How close do you feel to Israel?
Very close | 31% |
Fairly close | 37% |
Fairly distant | 24% |
Very distant | 8% |
Not sure | 0.6% |
Have you ever been to Israel?
No | 55% |
Yes - once | 21% |
Yes - more than once | 23% |