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Why Are Americans So Pro-Israel?

(Jeff Jacoby.com) Jeff Jacoby - Of all the ways in which the U.S. marches to the beat of its own drummer, few are more striking than the American people's consistent and deep-rooted support for the Jewish state. According to a recent Gallup survey, for the fourth year in a row, 59% of Americans - nearly 6 in 10 - said their sympathies were with Israel, while just 18% sided with the Palestinians. 63% said they had a favorable view of Israel (21% said very favorable), compared with just 15% who thought highly of the Palestinian Authority. Americans stand with Israel because in it they recognize a liberal democracy much like their own. They know that Israel is a stable ally in one of the world's most critical and volatile regions, and its painfully acquired expertise in counterterrorism is invaluable - all the more so as we wage our own war against jihadi terrorists. Americans sympathize with Israel because they understand that the enemies of Israel hate the U.S. as well. Finally, there is a deep religious bond between American Christians and the Jewish people, a bond that stretches back to the earliest era of American history. America and Israel are linked by the kinship of common values - an affinity of strength and decency that reflects the best of both nations, and sets them apart from the other nations of the world. The writer is a columnist for the Boston Globe.
2009-12-11 08:17:14
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