AJC 2019 Survey of Israeli Jewish Opinion

AJC’s 2019 Survey of Israeli Jewish Opinion, conducted by Geocartography, is based on telephone interviews carried out from April 10 to 17 with a national sample of 1,000 Jews over age 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1%.

1.	How important is being Jewish in your life?

Most important	51%
Very important	29%
Somewhat important	11%
Not too important	5%
Not at all important	3%
No opinion	1%

 

2.	Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “Living in Israel is a very important part of my being a Jew.”

Agree strongly	50%
Agree somewhat	32%
Disagree somewhat	11%
Disagree strongly	5%
No opinion	2%

 

3.	Do you consider being Jewish mostly a matter of religion, or more a matter of ethnicity and culture?

Mostly a matter of religion	24%
Mostly a matter of ethnicity or culture	51%
Both equally	23%
No opinion	3%

 

4.	Looking ahead five years, do you think that the ties between American and Israeli Jews will be...

Stronger than today	30%
Weaker than today	23%
About the same as today	38%

 

5.	Using the metaphor of a family, do you consider American Jews your...

Siblings	31%
First Cousins	11%
Extended family	36%
Not part of my family	23%

 

6.	Have you ever visited the United States?

No	52%
Yes, once	15%
Yes, more than once, but less than five times	21%
Yes, at least five times	12%

 

7.	Do you have family in the United States to whom you feel close?

Yes	44%
No	56%

 

8.	Do you think that a thriving Diaspora is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?

Yes	74%
No	20%
No opinion	6%

 

9.	Do you think that a thriving State of Israel is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people?

Yes	91%
No	5%
No opinion	4%

 

10.	Antisemitic incidents have become more frequent in Europe. Do you think that Jews have a future as Jews in Europe, or should they leave now?

Jews have a future as Jews in Europe	44%
Jews should leave now	46%
No opinion	10%

 

11.	Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Trump is handling U.S.-Israel relations?

Approve strongly	48%
Approve somewhat	31%
Disapprove somewhat	6%
Disapprove strongly	4%
No opinion	12%

 

12.	Under its current administration, the U.S. has pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) signed in 2015 that loosened economic restrictions on Iran in return for limitations on the Iranian nuclear program. Do you favor or oppose the U.S. pullout from the Iranian nuclear agreement (JCPOA)?

Approve strongly	49%
Approve somewhat	20%
Disapprove somewhat	10%
Disapprove strongly	8%
No opinion	13%

 

13.	Russia is emerging as a key player in Middle East geopolitics. Do you believe that Russia is...

A friend of Israel	24%
An enemy of Israel	23%
Neither a friend nor an enemy of Israel	43%
No opinion	10%

 

14.	Relations between Israel and the Muslim/Arab world have become warmer in recent years. Within a decade from now, do you believe that diplomatic relations will be established between Israel and Saudi Arabia, with an exchange of embassies?

Yes	62%
No	25%
No opinion	14%

 

15.	Do you think it appropriate for American Jews to attempt to influence Israeli policy on such issues as national security and peace negotiations with the Palestinians?

Appropriate	31%
Not appropriate	63%
No opinion	6%

 

16.	In the current situation, do you favor or oppose a two-state solution through the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state on the West Bank?

Favor strongly	17%
Favor somewhat	22%
Oppose somewhat	18%
Oppose strongly	33%
No opinion	9%

 

17.	As part of a peace agreement with the Palestinians, should Israel be willing to dismantle all, some, or none of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank?

Israel should be willing to dismantle all the settlements	6%
Israel should be willing to dismantle some of the settlements	37%
Israel should not be willing to dismantle any of the settlements	50%
No opinion	7%

 

18.	Looking ahead five years, do you think that the chances for peaceful coexistence between Israel and a Palestinian state will improve, decline, or stay the same?

Improve	14%
Decline	43%
Stay the same	37%
No opinion	7%

 

19.	In the April 2019 Knesset elections did you vote for...

Blue and White	21%
Gesher	1%
Kulanu	3%
Labor	6%
Likud	22%
Meretz	3%
New Right	4%
Jewish Home	6%
Ra'am-Balad	0% [less than 1%]
Shas	3%
United Torah Judaism	7%
Yisrael Beiteinu	3%
Zehut	3%
Other	0% [less than 1%]
Didn't Vote	4%
No Opinion	14%

 

20.	How do you define yourself religiously?

Haredi [Ultra-Orthodox]	10%
Religious Zionist	12%
Religious-traditional	14%
Not that religious-traditional	18%
Secular	41%
Other	4%
No Opinion	1%

 

21.	Do you support or oppose the recent American recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory?

Support	88%
Oppose	5%
Don't know	7%