I think Christians have long thought of the United States as Israel’s only friend in the world, but the Israelis don’t seem to agree.
According to a Jerusalem Post poll, only 6% of Israelis see the United States government as pro-Israel (down from 31% a month ago). Considering that the poll has a margin of error of 4.5%, this is shocking. By contrast, 50% of those polled believed the Obama administration to be pro-Palestinian.
With friends like us, who needs enemies? Admittedly, I don’t think a newspaper poll is definitive, but we should be sensitive to our government’s response to Israel. I think scripture and history demonstrate that our actions are crucial to our own well-being.
#1 by tc robinson on June 24, 2009 - 1:33 pm
Quite shocking indeed. Wow! That’s to a ridiculous point!
#2 by petermlopez on June 25, 2009 - 2:11 pm
It’s almost unbelievable, actually. But, it is what it is, I suppose.
#3 by hiscrivener on June 24, 2009 - 6:17 pm
What a difference an Administration change makes. Just sayin’.
#4 by petermlopez on June 25, 2009 - 2:12 pm
The funny thing is, I’m not entirely sure there’s much difference between Clinton, Bush or Obama in this area. I think a lot of it is perception, but that’s still important.
#5 by Bitsy Griffin on June 25, 2009 - 10:43 am
6% is statistically nothing. I wonder what that number was during the Bush administration since hiscrivener brought it up. Surely it was more but I don’t remember seeing the numbers. I guess that old “perception is everything” is raising it’s head in this case.
#6 by petermlopez on June 25, 2009 - 2:15 pm
The same poll says the perception of Bush’s administration was 88% pro-Israel…, but, see the remainder of my comment to hiscrivener.
#7 by jacob on June 26, 2009 - 1:51 am
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These are our teachings passed on through generations. If you can’t afford the book you can see the website of one of our teachers – http://www.stephanhuller.blogspot.com.
Shalom
Beth El Jacob Frank
#8 by petermlopez on June 26, 2009 - 9:20 pm
Thanks for reading. I will check it out.
#9 by hiscrivener on June 26, 2009 - 11:10 pm
Perception is reality… in politics. Ask anyone who voted for Bush if we were pro-Israel? OH YEAH! Ask anyone in Israel if we were during the Bush administration. OH YEAH!
However, when you have a president who would rather gallivant across Muslim stomping grounds than visit the Holy Land for high tea, that “perception” stares into the toilet.
Bitsy, you’re right. “Statistically” it is nothing… except for the people whose perception is that America has changed its mind.
#10 by Bitsy Griffin on June 27, 2009 - 8:01 am
hiscrivener – that’s exactly what I meant with the statistically nothing comment. It might as well be 0% with that low of a number. How do we rebuild from 6%? I don’t think we can with this administration. It’s such a sad commentary that with a change in leadership, perception (with all of its ramifications) has changed so radically.
This isn’t one of the consequences I expected from the US electing Obama. Now I’m wondering why I didn’t except that there were so many to anticipate.
#11 by petermlopez on June 29, 2009 - 9:18 am
Scrivener, Bitsy: I think all it would take would be a strong statement from a top political leader in support of Israel to start changing perception. It doesn’t have to be Obama, necessarily, although that would help. It could be Hillary or Biden or someone else equally high profile. And then we rebuild from there. It’s not impossible, but it’s going to take deliberate efforts. I think Christians can make a difference in this respect.