Obama and Jews by Barry Shaw.
There is a deep divide between Israelis and American Jews
over Obama. The polling and survey numbers prove the gaping gap between Jews in
Israel and those in America when it comes to Obama and Israel.
As Herb Keinon pointed out in the Jerusalem Post (Nov.2) if
Israel were to be America’s 51st state its 13 electoral votes (based
on population size) would go to Romney. In other words, Israel would line up
like Texas, Nebraska, and Indiana. This
is in deep contrast with the voting trends of American Jews.
An Israel Democracy Institute poll this week showed that, in
terms of Israeli interests, 57.2 percent of Israeli Jews said Romney. Only
21.5% went with Obama. This figure is consistent with other polls conducted in
Israel.
It is clear that Obama has not won the hearts and minds of
Israelis in the last four years despite Israel acknowledging the increased
defense spending that America has given the Jewish state.
In contrast, a Gallup poll found that American Jews plan to
vote 64% for Obama against only 25% for Romney.
What annoys Israelis is that Israel is only down in 4th
or 5th place in American Jews list of priorities when voting for
their next President. It is deeply upsetting for Israeli Jews to learn that
their American brethren put abortion and contraception before Israel’s
survival. We think the lethal and legal challenges to our very existence should
be more important to American Jews than obtaining free contraceptives and
abortions. Perhaps American Jews think that Obama is the candidate that, as he
has said, “has Israel’s back,” but Israel does not trust him on this. It comes down to Obama’s personal animosity
to our leader and our country. American Jews do not seem too disturbed that
Obama swerved both Israel and Israel’s Prime Minister during his first term
while courting our enemies. When Obama stated that “Israel is one of our
closest allies in the region” this was not a slip of the tongue. His
political worldview has demoted Israel to share his favors with others in the
Middle East led by Turkey, a Turkey that is increasingly Islamic and has turned
against Israel during Obama’s term in office.
During one of Obama’s jaunts around the Islamic capitals he
did detour to visit Buchenwald with Eli Wiesel. This visit resonated with
American Jews. Its significance had a completely different meaning for Israeli
Jews. It said to them that Obama respects American Jews. It’s just the Israeli Jews
he can’t tolerate. And yet American Jews will go to the polls on Tuesday and cast
their ballot for the man who skips Jerusalem. It’s less important to them than
contraceptives.
Barry Shaw is the author of ‘Israel Reclaiming the Narrative’.
Available on Amazon or at www.israelnarrative.com
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