Poll: Nearly half of U.S. voters support total settlement freeze

Henry, what is your concept of "settling the conflict"? Arabs have no concept of peace treaties. They will take whatever they can get by talking and then fight for the rest. The only thing they understand is force. So the only way to have peace with them is to be so strong that they cannot win. And then you have to kick them around every now and then so they know you're that strong. That's what peace means in the middle east.

Israel will further isolate itself from the world, and bring upon itself more contempt by doing what you suggest. Israel would be creating a great deal of instability for itself.

many years ago, it was meretz that said we should not accept US dollars, maybe they were right. does acceptance of money from the likes of hilary and obama mean our lives are for sale?

You do not seem rational OK that you are Zionist, but do you really think that 0,1 % of world population could aggressively peruse their own interpretation of law? The law is just the opposite it will be interpret by an neutral, well educated, hopefully wise party. And you do not fit the description yet of a civilized state. Soon you will.. Just redraw to the 67 lines and all will be well with you!

And you refer to yourself as a REASONABLE zIONIST? From your remarks, you seem to be confirming what the world thinks, that Israel has no intention of settling this conflict. I hope that you realize that much.

You guys just don't understand. The truth is, all of Israel is for all of the Jews. And nobody else. Nobody has any right to tell Israel what to do. Israel will do what's good for Israel. International law? International law is made by goys and for goys. International law is antisemitic. Israel has absolutely no obligation to recognize it. Israel has a higher Law. When international law recognises that all of Israel is for all the Jews and nobody else, then we'll talk. Palestinians deserve no rights in Israel. Arabs have 100 times as much land. They can live there. Why should we let them cause trouble in Israel? Just go away. Everybody who opposes Israel will be punished. That includes Obama. Remember, Israel has nukes. Nobody can boss Israel around.

The Conqured land is NOT DISPUTED. The SETTLEMEBNTS BUILDING ON CONQURED are DISPUTED. The JEWS had their cake 55% in 1947, they accept it and eat it,& called it The Jewish State of Israel, in May 1947 The rest of Palestine, is Sovereingn State of the Arabs 2B known soon as State of Palestine. and the Holy city is 2 B made a Holy INTERNATIONAL CITY for the main THREE RELIGIONS, JEWISH, CHRISTIANS and MUSLIMS. Period

at the end of this tunnel. We do have enough of the Dog biting the hands that feeds him.

This American has felt this way for some time. Israel's settlement policy is unacceptable to me. For those Israelis who don't want to listen to what Americans think, that's find and dandy by me, just so long as we get to stop sending you billions of dollars per year in aid, plus covering your asses in the UN Security Council whenever needed. If you want to continue your reprehensible settlement policy, that's your call, but NOT ON MY DIME, and with my nation's diplomatic cover. An alliance is a two-way street. We give something, we get something. The Israeli right wing appears to believe that this alliance is one-way.

?The Rasmussen Reports poll also showed that 75% of U.S. voters said that the Palestinians should be required to acknowledge Israel's right to exist?.?Without doubt! But does it require it to be a state just for Jewish people, making the non Jewish living in a permanent despair and harassment (including Christians). Without doubt NO.

You anti-semites !!! Jesus came from the Jews. God GAVE Israel to the Jews forever. We should scrape the muslins into the sea as one might scrape the dung off ones shoes after walking in a park. God will judge the nations on how well they treated Israel.

"unfortunately he also said that does not apply to israel. funny, he admits to an israel but not that it is indepence within its borders. israel is not building outside its borders." If you say things like that, you haven't understood some very basic things about Israel and the conflict. Israel has never officially declared where its borders lie. That's quite a problem to start with. Int. law on the other hand is very clear about it, but Israel refuses to accept int. law concerning these issues. In either case to say that Israel is sovereign within its borders and only builds within them is very wrong a thing to say, and honestly,very ignorant too.

I hate to say this, but did the poll responders even have enough background detail to make the poll worthwhile? Honestly - if more than 40% cannot even find Israel on a map, why would we think their opinions really matter?

to all the Zionists who want to believe that the US and Israel are "friends" ...here you have it

70% of American voters think Israel is in South America. 25% own stock in Israeli companies. The rest are in jail and will be getting out soon..... Quick... find a black man who looks good in a suit and tie!

It does not surprise me at all that Americans do not support Israel, the leftist/socialist(nazi)press has fed them a line that is so anti-semetic its disgusting. The ones that you really can count on are the ones who love the Torah and know that Israel is still Adonai's chosen people. When the day comes, when you will accept us because we do Love the Torah of Moshe ,then we will move there and help you

To hell with the polls. You can get the answers you require by the wording of the questions. The reality is President Obama, who inherited a mountain of horse-shit, is getting the job done. Americans support him regardless of the media spin. Latin America and Africa embrace him. President Chavez supports him through increased oil production. Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Panama, Columbia...they are toning down the anti-American slogans(Eagle of the North) because they RESPECT HIS WORDS AND ACTIONS. Something that Israeli politicos don't understand. They speak in oxymorons, "constructive ambiguity" and other nonsense. Salaam/Shalom

I read your post five times, and can't make any sense of it. What is meant by "viable"? Whose responsibility is to make it "viable"? Why would the "viable" Pals start sending money to USA? Help me before I go crazy.

that Israel is not building inside Israel. It is buildning illegal settlements on occupied territories.

"israel is not building outside its borders" The sovereign boundaries of the state of Israel were declared on 14 May 1948 on the basis of UNGAR resolution 181. News flash ALL - ALL - ALL construction in East Jerusalem and the West Bank is outside of Israel's sovereign territory. I won't bore you with the illegality of the settlement movement since you seem to be incapable of grasping this advanced concept. I do, however, recommend you get a map.

I tend to agree. What every yank should be made aware of is the views of Petraeus on the matter. I imagine those supporting the freeze would then jump to well over 70%.

The same number of Americans think everything started when Israel 'occupied' Arab land in 1967. Prior to 1967, Arabs and Jews lived together in perfect harmony in the eyes of such Americans. These are also the same Americans who voted for Obama.

Why does it matter what Americans think about a settlement freeze? I'll bet most of them can't find Israel on a map, let alone have an understanding where the settlements are, what their strategic importance is and especially the historical ties to to the land. How can one expect intelligent answers from people that don't have all the information needed to give intelligent answers. This poll is meaningless.No wonder you gave it a heads up.

It is a joke. Israelis abroad cannot vote. But simple americans are heard in so a sensitive matter.

the statement from number five sounds more like a threat than anything else. the truth is that israel like any other country can decide where to build and when. all the arab countries, as well as other countries around the world do not take direction as to where to issue construction permits. I guess number five would have liked what joeker biden the vice poopoo said that construction is good sign of economic growth. unfortunately he also said that does not apply to israel. funny, he admits to an israel but not that it is indepence within its borders. israel is not building outside its borders. #5 made a mistake in criticizing the far right. he meant the far left is the problem. i guess we can forgive you for not understanding there is a vast differance.

1) American policy has always (since 1967, that is) been in accord with that of all other nations except Israel: the territories plus E. Jerusalem are occupied and settlements and permanent construction are illegal; 2) Rasmussen polls are Republican-leaning. As you must know, the Republican line is to oppose anything proposed by the Obama administration. It would not be surprising if Rasmussen's numbers underestimate opposition to Israel's continuing policy of formalizing the occupation; 3) The headline of this article is deceptive. "Nearly half" opposed to building is true (49%), but misses the point. The fact that this is more than twice the fraction of those in favor of building (22%) is the important fact, isn't it? 4) As many of us keep telling you on these pages, Israel has virtually no grassroots American support for its policies in the territories. You can keep on demonizing President Obama if you wish, but you are wrong if you think he has thin support for his approach.

I have studied some statics as part of my masters thesis and dont believe that poll for a second. If its true its true of a fraction of the population. I would say the vast majority disagree with stopping building and starting to pressure the PA and Arab world to make gestures for peace, something Israel has done every year it seems only to get terrorism and war mongering from the Arab world in return. That survey is a big lie for the majority in the US, of that I am certain.

If I were an Israeli citizen, here's the poll finding I would be concerned about. In this latest poll, 58% of Americans say they consider Israel to be an ally. When the same question was asked in August, fully 70% of respondents said they regarded Israel as a US ally. That represents a pretty dramatic drop-off. My two cents: Not only are we beginning to see a divergence in perceived national interest between the US and Israel, but Americans also are beginning to question whether our two nations, indeed, share the same basic democratic values.

Americans and others need to know their history : On 7 December, 1988, Palestinian Liberation Chairman Yasser Arafat announced in a press conference that the PLO had made an important decision the month before. His words :"We accept two states - the Palestinian state and the Jewish state of Israel."

Because sovereign or not Israel does not have the right to break the geneva convention with illegal settlements, nor does it have the right to defy the UN charter, and the various UNSC resolutions. Just as you I assume expect Iran to halt their nuclear programme (even though no proof exists they violate laws), Israel must abide by international law.

Why should U.S. voter have any say on how Israel chooses to survive? How would U.S. voters react to the latest rocket death from Gaza ? Israel should do what's good for Israel..... not U.S. voters. Really now !

Trouble is that most Americans know next to nothing about the facts of this conflict. It requires a lot of reading various sources to be REALLY informed and few have the time or inclination. Still, this poll shows many are getting the gist of the matter by now. David

If you think giving in to the wolves and tigers of the Middlle East what they demand will bring peace, you must be living in fantasyland. Your knowledge of History and Islamist-Jihadism is zero. The fact is as Islamist-Jihadist scholar, Omar Abdel Rahman, points out, "There is no surah called 'Peace.' Jihad and killing are the head of Islam. If you take them out, you cut off the head of Islam." (p.24, "Islam and Terrorism" [2002] by Mark A. Gabriel, PhD) "The history of Islam...could only be characterized as a river of blood." (Ibid., p.5)

"Joe Biden told his Israeli hosts that since many people in the Muslim world perceived a connection between Israel's actions and US policy, any decision about construction that undermines Palestinian rights in East Jerusalem could have an impact on the personal safety of American troops fighting against Islamic terrorism." The message couldn't be plainer: Israel's intransigence could cost American lives. There are important and powerful lobbies in America: the NRA, the American Medical Association, the lawyers -- and the Israeli lobby. But no lobby is as important, or as powerful, as the U.S. military. While commentators and pundits might reflect that Joe Biden's trip to Israel has forever shifted America's relationship with its erstwhile ally in the region, the real break came in January, when David Petraeus sent a briefing team to the Pentagon with a stark warning: America's relationship with Israel is important, but not as important as the lives of America's soldiers. May

Let's see IN 1993 THEY DID JUST THAT!!!!!! Check with your government! http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/Israel-PLO+Recognition+-+Exchange+of+Letters+betwe.htm The question was a Jewish State. So what about all the Non Jewish citizens of Israel? Ah human rights what human right?

as long as the zionist state takes our welfare which could be used better at home they will do what we ask....

Talk about biased poll questions ! The great poll this article breathlessly sites WORDED the question as follows: "should Israel be required to stop building new settlements in occupied Palestinian territory?" WHAT A JOKE ! A fair wording is "in disputed territory?" By the way, those who like the original, how about this instead: "should Israel be required to stop building new settlements in the Old City's Jewish Quarter?" Afterall, the "moderate" Peace Process supporters consider EVERYTHING occupied. One other thing, this same poll found that about HALF THE RESPONDENTS have not been "following" the news about Israel closely.

Agreed. Israel is a sovereign state and not a colony of the US. You will agree as well, that the US is a sovereign state, and not a colony of Israel. And that meddling in its politics by agents of a foreign government, such as Aipac, should also be discouraged. Both nations have their interests--and contrary to the oft-expressed notion--those interests are not identical. As a sovereign state, and member of the international community of sovereign states, Israel should either accept international law on Palestine, or as a sovereign state reject international law and face the consequences--like any sovereign state.

The stupid Christian Right is too blind to see the importance of the threats against America due to Israel's actions and policies. America will stand to gain hugely by establishing a viable Palestinian State. The arabs would then pour money into the US enough to create jobs for generations to come. And then, the US will no longer have to spend billions on Israel only to bring headaches and deaths to the US. I am not saying abandon Israel, but a palestinian state is a must for America's peace. General Patreas got it right.

Israel is a sovereign country. It is NOT a colony of USA. And the USA or any other country has NO business intruding in Israel's internal affairs. The Poll is totally irrelevant.

....of the so called "Jewish vote". I would bet, that even more than half of Obamas Jewish voters from the last election are supporting a total freeze. Hopefully that Rasmussen poll will be on Obamas desk tonight....

*This* US voter supports total disengagement of the US in MIddle East affairs *now*. It has brought us nothing except tsores.

This shows if American politicians actually supported the UN Security Council resolutions it passed and international law, then more Americans would support that than not, but some radical Christians in alliance with AIPAC have too much influence. That's why Jstreet is considered a threat to the Right wing.