American Views about Israel Since October 2023

Some of Mishpachca’s ‘man in the street’ interviewees

There was an interesting ‘man in the street’ interview in Mishpacha Magazine last week. The idea was to randomly ask Jews who were not particularly religious how - or even if October 7^th changed their lives Jewishly. While their goal was to interview only Jews, they ended up interviewing a few non Jews as well.  

Although this was not a statistically significant study, it mimics what my own non scientific impression about the views of both Jewish and non Jewish Americans with respect to Israel since that day of infamy. I got a sense of what I believe is a very sad reality. Which is that as a rule most Jews tend to be more critical of Israel’s conduct in the war them most non Jews.

I can’t really blame them for being critical based on what they see. Even though I completely disagree with them I have the benefit of knowing the historical context of the conflict and the reality of their unalterable determination to return all of Palestine into Muslim hands and exterminate us in the process as as a religious value. All of which is codified in the Hamas charter. And the fact that Israel is surrounded by countries and  militias with guns pointed at it. Including Iran proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and  Iran itself. Not to mention Hamas, which is itself an Iran proxy.

Without any of that context, it is understandable why Palestinians are getting so much sympathy. The fact that it is mostly young people (including many young Jewish people) that are joining pro Palestinian protests is a function of their ignorance of any of that context. They protest what they see every night now for 6 months! If you factor in the influence pro Palestinian faculty members have on their students, it not only increases their numbers but gives campus protesters the added ‘legitimacy’ of being college educated.

The response of one the Mishpacha’s  Jewish interviewees illustrates the complete naiveté of which I speak: 

 “I see the anger on both sides. I was brought up on the philosophy that you should love your enemy. I see that Jews are angry, so this principle of ‘love your enemy’ is really being put to the test. It’s a test for us to be able to look beyond all the hate. But even in this horror, we can be a bridge, and look beyond the hate to what is true and just. We should find a way to make peace with our neighbors to the south.

“Everyone has lost people, there is indiscriminate horror regardless of which side you’re on. Everyone wants to protect his own family, his tribe.”

If this response was not so laden with deadly consequences it would make me laugh. Imagine having a meeting with Hitler and trying to sell him this argument? Does anyone with even a half a brain think this could have worked?

We are talking about Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran... and more. all of whom consider  Mein Kampf required reading. They consider Hitler one of their heroes. A role model with respect to the Jewish people. Little children are indoctrinated to believe that killing Jews is the will of God. Devout Muslims like these are probably more motivated to kill Jews than Hitler was. That’s why Palestinians in Gaza AND the West Bank cheered at what happened on October 7^th instead of being horrified like the rest of the civilized world.

Sure. Finding common ground and making peace with your enemy is the surest way to find peace a prosperity for your people. But only it it’s possible. This poor clueless young Jew may think he is being true to his ideals. But he is not. He is being stupid based on ignorance.

I am happy to say that the president and vast majority of congress (in both houses - on both sides of the political aisle) are a bit less clueless than the altruistic but misguided young  supporters of Hamas. While they also express sympathy for suffering Palestinian they understand what Israel is up against and must do to protect itself. And they are supporting them with cash.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a conservative Republican supporter of Donald Trump bucked fellow conservative Republican House members (that I consider extremists). They wanted him to reject any support for the Ukraine even if it meant denying aid to Israel. They have been denying this vital aid for 6 months. 

Johnson had the courage of his convictions to  finally submit 3 bills for a vote in the House (one of which was aid to Israel). It passed overwhelmingly with almost half the Republicans and all of the Democrats voting in favor of it. This despite threats by the extremists in his party to oust him if he did.  They will now  attempt to do that. But it appears that Democrats may actually vote against it and save his job as a reward for doing the right thing. (Haven’t seen bipartisanship like that in a long time.)

Although there is so much media focus on the nationwide Palestinian protests, I still believe that most Americans support Israel and its right to defend itself. Even if they might disagree on how they are doing it (based on all those horrible images coming out of Gaza).

There are two interviews with non Jews that I believe capture the mood of the country - one of someone leaning conservative and the other of two people  leaning  liberal: 

Interview one:

 “Netanyahu did right,” he offers emphatically. “Hamas took over the Palestinian people, and he was right to go after them. The people who are pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas just aren’t very educated. Biden, Obama… I don’t know what’s going on there. Obama never showed any respect for Netanyahu. He made him wait hours for meetings. Maybe it goes back to the influence of George Soros. But what’s happening with them all is a travesty. I hope Netanyahu stays in power.”

Interview two:

“It’s bad, what’s going on,” Diana ventures. “I can empathize with the people who are feeling unsafe, or targeted. But I don’t know that people in New York are so negative. I think there are as many people who want to help Israel and Jews as there are against them.”

 “It’s been a rough situation over there that’s been going on for years,” she says. “Most people don’t want to see more people dying over it. We’d like to see some kind of resolution.”

“The pro-Hamas people are just more vocal,” Diane says. “When you speak to people quietly, they’re pro-Israel. I feel like New York is still a safe place, and Jews don’t need to worry.” 

As I indicated at the outset. I have no proof that the views expressed in these  excerpts reflect the actual mood of the American people vis-a vis Israel and the Jewish people. But they do closely  resemble my own observation and instincts. .