Americans are divided over support for Israel.
Considering how much grief supporters of Israel have been giving anyone who opposes the scorched earth response to the Hamas October 7th attack I am surprised at this results of recent polls.
The polls are not especially good for Israel or for Joe Biden who has given Israel full support.
Trump must be giddy.
By the way, there is an interesting article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that describes how the Euro-fascists who are historically tied to antisemitism are now Israel’s biggest supporters.
The Israel-Hamas war presents a glittering opportunity for Europe’s right-wing populists, where leaders like Orbán are pointing to their countries as sanctuaries for Jews and Christians.
For France’s Marine Le Pen, who is expected to run for president for a fourth time in 2027, the war provides more fuel for her mission to rebrand the extremist, antisemitic party she inherited from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen.
But in the United States, poll after poll show Americans split down the middle over support for Israel.
The pro-Israel lobby groups like the Anti-Defamation League and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and their funders have spent tons of money to try and paint opponents of Israel’s actions in Gaza as antisemites.
They have threatened the few members of Congress who have called for a ceasefire with being primaried.
They are dragging University presidents before Congressional hearings to berate them for not shutting down actions sympathetic to Palestinians.
Their approach looks something like this:
If you don’t start every discussion of the war with a condemnation of Hamas then you condone what Hamas did. I have been to many protests that have called for a ceasefire. I met no-one who supported or condoned Hamas’ assault of October 7th.
They make Hamas, Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims out to be all the same. It is the very definition of racism.
Jews and Israel are also the same thing. Oppose Israeli policies and you are de facto antisemitic.
It is effective in causing confusion, but not enough to win hearts and minds.
I have had to remind folks that all Jews are not Zionists and all Zionists are not Jewish.