Most ‘connected’ American Jews favor opposition win in Israel’s October election, survey finds
“The strong interest of American Jews in elections in Israel demonstrates the importance of Israel to them," JPPI President Prof. Yedidia Stern said.
A recent poll conducted by the Jewish People Policy Institute has found that a majority of "connected" American Jews would prefer the opposition to triumph in Israel's upcoming October elections. Defined as those with strong ties to the Jewish community and Israel, 54% of the surveyed respondents expressed a clear preference for the opposition.
The next largest group, 24%, stated that it was not their place to voice a preference, while 14% backed the current ruling coalition. Only 8% of respondents had no preference. Although only 8% of the respondents held Israeli citizenship, a significant 78% reported following Israeli election news closely, with 63% following it "very closely" and 29% "somewhat closely."
JPPI President Prof. Yedidia Stern emphasized the importance of Israel to American Jews, citing two key reasons: Israel's actions can affect how American Jews are perceived, potentially impacting their status in the US, and Israel remains central to the identity of many American Jews. The war has reportedly strengthened Jewish identity among a significant portion of the community, according to JPPI surveys.
The survey's panel was primarily composed of "connected" American Jews, with a Democratic majority. Sixty-two percent of respondents supported Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, while 30% backed Republican candidate Donald Trump. The survey was not representative of all American Jews due to its focus on "connected" individuals.
Political orientation played a significant role in shaping respondents' preferences for the Israeli election. Among "strong conservatives," only 8% favored the opposition, while 56% supported the coalition. Among Trump voters, 43% backed the coalition. Support for the opposition increased steadily as respondents moved toward more liberal political views, with 78% of strong liberals preferring an opposition victory.
The preference for an opposition victory was also evident among US respondents eligible to vote in Israel, with 55% supporting the opposition, more than double the 26% who favored the current coalition.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
