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Posted: June 22, 2008

Why do non-Jewish Americans support Israel?

Walter Russell Mead is one of the most revered American foreign policy scholars in the U.S. He has authored some great books (chief among them, Special Providence), as well as many great articles. Last year he wrote the most powerful argument against Walt and Mearsheimer's The Israel Lobby.

Now Mead has a new article in Foreign Affairs, entitled "Why Gentile Americans Back the Jewish State". Although I usually refrain from just quoting articles without adding my own take, I think this time I'll do just that. Most people do not read such long articles, and are not Foreign Affairs subscribers, so I'm posting this as an appetizer which will hopefully lure people to the full article.

Revelation, Religion, ideals

Here are a couple of paragraphs from Walter Russell Mead's The New Israel and the Old:

"Widespread gentile support for Israel is one of the most potent political forces in U.S. foreign policy, and in the last 60 years, there has never been a Gallup poll showing more Americans sympathizing with the Arabs or the Palestinians than with the Israelis? many of those who tell pollsters that the United States' policies are fair to both sides actually favor policies that most non-U.S. observers would consider strongly and even irresponsibly pro-Israel. The American public has few foreign policy preferences that are this marked, this deep, this enduring -- and this much at odds with public opinion in other countries. In the United States, a pro-Israel foreign policy does not represent the triumph of a small lobby over the public will. It represents the power of public opinion to shape foreign policy in the face of concerns by foreign policy professionals."

"mythic understanding of the United States' nature and destiny is one of the most powerful and enduring elements in American culture and thought. As the ancient Hebrews did, many Americans today believe that they bear a revelation that is ultimately not just for them but also for the whole world; they have often considered themselves God's new Israel. One of the many consequences of this presumed kinship is that many Americans think it is both right and proper for one chosen people to support another. They are not disturbed when the United States' support of Israel, a people and a state often isolated and ostracized, makes the United States unpopular or creates other problems. The United States' adoption of the role of protector of Israel and friend of the Jews is a way of legitimizing its own status as a country called to a unique destiny by God."

"The Prophet Isaiah had described the future return of the Jews to their homeland as God's grace bringing water to a desert land. And Americans watched the returning fertility of the land under the cultivation of early Zionist settlers with the astonished sense that biblical prophecy was being fulfilled before their eyes. "The springs of Jewish colonizing vigor, amply fed by the money of world Jewry, flowed on to the desert," wrote Time magazine in 1946, echoing the language of Isaiah. Two years later, following the Jewish victory in the 1948 war, it described the Arabs in terms that induce flinching today but represented common American perceptions at the time: "The Western world tends to think of the Arab as a falcon-eyed warrior on a white horse. That Arab is still around, but he is far less numerous than the disease-ridden wretches who lie in the hot streets, too weak, sick and purposeless to roll over into the shade." Americans saw a contest between a backward and incapable people and a people able to settle the wilderness and make it bloom, miraculously fulfilling ancient prophecies of a Jewish state."

"Since the 1967 war, however, the basis of Israel's support in the United States has shifted: backing for Israel has tended to weaken on the left and grow on the right. On the left, a widespread dislike of Israel's policies in the occupied territories and a diminished concern for its security in the wake of its triumph in the war led many African Americans, mainline Protestants, and liberal intellectuals, once among Israel's staunchest U.S. allies, toward growing sympathy with Palestinian views?. On the right, the most striking change since 1967 has been the dramatic intensification of suppport for Israel among evangelical Christians and, more generally, among what I have called "Jacksonian" voters in the U.S. heartland. Jacksonians are populist-nationalist voters who favor a strong U.S. military and are generally skeptical of international organizations and global humanitarian aid? Many Jacksonians formed negative views of the Arabs during the Cold War. The Palestinians and the Arab states, they noted, tended to side with the Soviet Union and the Nonaligned Movement against the United States? After the Cold War, the Jacksonians found that the United States' opponents in the region, such as Iraq and Iran, were the most vociferous enemies of Israel as well."

"A Palestinian and Arab leadership more sensitive to the values and political priorities of the American political culture could develop new and more effective tactics designed to weaken, rather than strengthen, American support for the Jewish state. An end to terrorist attacks, for example, coupled with well-organized and disciplined nonviolent civil resistance, might alter Jacksonian perceptions of the Palestinian struggle. It is entirely possible that over time, evangelical and fundamentalist Americans will retrace Jimmy Carter's steps from a youthful Zionism to what he would call a more balanced position now. But if Israel should face any serious crisis, it seems more likely that opinion will swing the other way. Many of the Americans who today call for a more evenhanded policy toward the Palestinians do so because they believe that Israel is fundamentally secure. Should that assessment change, public opinion polls might well show even higher levels of U.S. support for Israel."

Last word:

I wrote about American public support for Israel a couple of times. Here are links to some of the articles:

Gazans don't deserve to get water from Israel, or do they?

Americans have a favorable view of Israel, especially Republicans

Americans just loooove Israel

Poll shows American women less supportive than men of Israel



  1.   Here`s why...... 21:24  |  William 22/06/08
  2.   Rosner - you are delusional 21:24  |  Wendy 22/06/08
  3.   Why Americans support Israel 21:52  |  Boycott 22/06/08
  4.   No other reason than this... God`s favor. 22:41  |  American`s believe 22/06/08
  5.   Judeo Christian constitution same God, same laws. 22:52  |  petra 22/06/08
  6.   Israel is a testament of the faithfulness of God 23:00  |  Gina 22/06/08
  7.   Israel is the best soap opera on the internet 23:05  |  Lorie 22/06/08
  8.   Reality 23:08  |  Fred Goepfert 22/06/08
  9.   Or, if you are uncomfortable with that giving of thanks, 23:18  |  you could say... 22/06/08
  10.   #4 Americans believe 00:04  |  ballistic 23/06/08
  11.   #6 Gina 00:06  |  ballistic 23/06/08
  12.   Gina, AMEN SISTER!!! "The Majesty of the Living God" 00:22  |  How I long to see 23/06/08
  13.   # 8, God "acts" everyday. Though I too, think it will be much 01:11  |  more clear to all 23/06/08
  14.   NO WILLIAM, HERE`S WHY AMERICANS SUPPORT ISRAEL 01:22  |  Brant 23/06/08
  15.   # 7, Not about Israel`s or America`s values. It`s about 01:35  |  God`s values. 23/06/08
  16.   Many reasons as can be seen from reading these posts 01:38  |  Realist 23/06/08
  17.   I love to hear atheists Jews talk about God 02:00  |  Wendy 23/06/08
  18.   from start to finish its all about God 05:24  |  sarahs child 23/06/08
  19.   Once again Rosner proves to be a complete idiot 06:08  |  betz55 23/06/08
  20.   An American doesn`t have to like jews in order to love Israel 06:21  |  Voice of Reason 23/06/08
  21.   Why support israel 06:38  |  don 23/06/08
  22.   WHY because Israel is in the front line against Global Jihad 06:49  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
  23.   Most Americans Support Israel 06:51  |  US CITIZEN 23/06/08
  24.   WILLIAM Arabs come from the Arabian gulf.DNA linked Jews 07:06  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
  25.   Non-Jewish Americans don`t support Israel. They tolerate Israel. 07:40  |  Natallie Durson 23/06/08
  26.   So Jesus can destroy it 07:43  |  .. 23/06/08
  27.   # 3 YOU CANNOT BOYCOTT G-D !! 07:47  |  AVRUM 23/06/08
  28.   Blind Ignorance 08:43  |  Jack Olson 23/06/08
  29.   We feel your pain, bashers 08:49  |  Stephen in New York 23/06/08
  30.   americans and Israel 09:19  |  cebuano 23/06/08
  31.   why indeed 09:22  |  davidk 23/06/08
  32.   We`ll turn that cowed runt into a champ if it kills us 09:26  |  Bill 23/06/08
  33.   Mythic hubris 10:11  |  Truth 23/06/08
  34.   # 7 - Soap opera, best telenovelas actors, the arabs in general 10:12  |  guido 23/06/08
  35.   oh please 10:29  |  Nick 23/06/08
  36.   you`ve got it wrong again Natallie 10:39  |  August West 23/06/08
  37.   Nonsense Natallie 10:47  |  August 23/06/08
  38.   american ignorance and israel lobby 10:58  |  mehmet 23/06/08
  39.   August West - You left something out 11:04  |  Natallie Durson 23/06/08
  40.   Who is the big Satan?? 11:07  |  ScotGuy 23/06/08
  41.   Say `No` to the BBC! 11:22  |  Joseph 23/06/08
  42.   because there is bigger rivalry with islam 11:59  |  Koranist 23/06/08
  43.   Nick "oh Please" 12:08  |  George 23/06/08
  44.   what`s said stands to reason...EXCEPT for ONE thing... 12:18  |  eric 23/06/08
  45.   William & Boycott - yeah right 12:21  |  ChanahS 23/06/08
  46.   big deal.. 12:26  |  ravi 23/06/08
  47.   #1 William 12:29  |  Navy Vet 23/06/08
  48.   sarah`s child 18 12:31  |  ChanahS 23/06/08
  49.   VERY GOOD Reasons given in" While Europe slept" 12:31  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
  50.   don`s inane comment 21 12:33  |  ChanahS 23/06/08
  51.   BECAUSE OF PRACTICAL REASONS 12:35  |  indrajaya 23/06/08
  52.   Jack Olsen - blind and deaf 28 12:40  |  ChanahS 23/06/08
  53.   Why do most Arabs support the Palestinians...????? 12:40  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/06/08
  54.   no mrntion of armageddon 12:42  |  matt 23/06/08
  55.   Truth -- time to change your moniker 12:44  |  ChanahS 23/06/08
  56.   Koranist 12:48  |  ChanahS 23/06/08
  57.   RAVI . India also supports Israel.terrorist attacks 13:00  |  23/06/08
  58.   Why Americans? 13:08  |  Theodore 23/06/08
  59.   Jack Olsen is correct 13:15  |  Sylvie 23/06/08
  60.   harvard poll recently reported that 77% of arabs 13:24  |  harzion 23/06/08
  61.   more of really why 13:25  |  Genuine Tosefta 23/06/08
  62.   Swissy, unlike Jews, Arabs always support Arabs 13:27  |  Genuine Tosefta 23/06/08
  63.   To Gina, 6 13:30  |  Jozef 23/06/08
  64.   re:swiss dino 13:36  |  koranist 23/06/08
  65.   Let me sum up-Israelis, crazy, Pals, crazy 13:40  |  Aphemia 23/06/08
  66.   What role does guilt over the Holocaust play? 13:40  |  newageblues 23/06/08
  67.   # 62 G Tosefta....Koran says they have to 13:45  |  Lynn 23/06/08
  68.   39 Durson 13:52  |  zionist 23/06/08
  69.   Message to the AntiChrist 13:53  |  Shimon Cleopas 23/06/08
  70.   NAVY VET.with respect there was a US hearing over the Liberty 13:54  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
  71.   Lynn #67 doing a Linda Rivera? 13:54  |  ahmed 23/06/08
  72.   Love 13:56  |  Lea 23/06/08
  73.   # 39 Durson.....russia is also a "democracy, 14:09  |  Lynn 23/06/08
  74.   newblues,by your logic Europeans should have been more supportive 14:11  |  Genuine Tosefta 23/06/08
  75.   "TRUTH" Arabs suddenly became Palestinians after 2 years 14:13  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
  76.   newageblues `"innocent Palestinians" 14:28  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
  77.   Lynn-you confuse democracy with servility #73 14:37  |  John Syracuse 23/06/08
  78.   The answer is simple 14:42  |  Said 23/06/08
  79.   Newageblues - talking of innnocent Palestinians 14:49  |  ChanahS 23/06/08
  80.   # 71 ahmed....Experience tells me I am right, 14:51  |  Lynn 23/06/08
  81.   # 65 Aphemia...chanting "death to America" 14:54  |  Lynn 23/06/08
  82.   john syracruse there is no perfection in democracy 14:54  |  yair 23/06/08
  83.   Peter SM Re: USS Liberty 14:57  |  Ramius 23/06/08
  84.   SAID London.You must be talking about the Arab invaders 14:58  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
  85.   US support for Israel very soft 14:59  |  spyguy 23/06/08
  86.   #14 Brant 15:03  |  democrat 23/06/08
  87.   # 77 John Syracuse....my statement stands 15:04  |  Lynn 23/06/08
  88.   Said you answer is simple indeed 15:06  |  Ramius 23/06/08
  89.   Dumb Natallie Durson does it again 15:08  |  Nechama 23/06/08
  90.   Brant @ Hilton Head #14 15:10  |  Nechama 23/06/08
  91.   HEY NATALLIE DURSON: READ #14 by Brant 15:11  |  Nechama 23/06/08
  92.   SAID London.Cowboys & Indians v`s historical facts 15:16  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
  93.   Said in London 78 15:20  |  ChanahS 23/06/08
  94.   Which "Israel"? 15:22  |  Gray 23/06/08
  95.   RAMIUS Some bring up the Liberty because they have nothing else. 15:24  |  PETER SM 23/06/08
  96.   # 62 Genuine Tosefta "Jews don`t support Jews...???" 15:26  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/06/08
  97.   William @ 1 15:27  |  ChanahS 23/06/08
  98.   Peter SM, so every single Pal is guilty of these things? 15:32  |  newageblues 23/06/08
  99.   Peter SM They are not Patriots, they just play at it. 15:40  |  Ramius 23/06/08
  100.   Why Most Americans Support Israel (part 1) 15:40  |  Jeff Northridge 23/06/08
  101.   newageblues.NOW we are getting somewhere 15:40  |  PETER SM 23/06/08