ZOA
A new poll has shown a large plurality of Americans — 43% to 25% — favor Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing the U.S. Congress on the looming Iranian nuclear weapons threat, which Mr. Netanyahu is due to do on March 3.
The CNN/ORC poll, conducted by Paragon Insights and released this week, shows that 43% of Americans agree with the statement: “Other people say Iran is getting closer to building a nuclear weapon. As one of the world’s most knowledgeable leaders on the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu should address Congress before the March 31st deadline for a political framework with Iran.”
In contrast, only 25% of Americans agree with the following statement: “Some people say Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is in the middle of an election at home, and it is inappropriate for the U.S. to host him for a speech only two weeks before the election is being held. They say this is a Republican attempt to make Netanyahu look stronger before his election.”
In other results, the poll showed:
47% disapprove of the way the Obama Administration has reacted to the Mr. Netanyahu’s upcoming speech by refusing to meet with him during his U.S. visit, as opposed to 32% who approve of the Administration’s reaction.
More than a third of respondents said they would be less likely to vote to re-elect their congressman if he or she boycotted the Netanyahu speech, while 27% said it would make them more likely to support re-election.
Only 22% of Americans said that Mr. Netanyahu should be barred from speaking because of his personal political interests in the upcoming Israeli elections.
52% of Americans believe that the U.S. should support Israel (26% strongly support), whereas only 11% believe it should support the Palestinians (3% strongly support).
51% of Americans disapprove of President Obama’s handling of foreign policy (30% strongly disapprove), while only 41% approve (only 13% strongly approve).
“While a large 63% of Americans have expressed disapproval of the way Mr. Netanyahu was invited to speak by the House Speaker John Boehner, most nonetheless support the Israeli Prime Minister addressing Congress on the Iranian nuclear threat,” explained ZOA National Chairman of the Board Dr. Michael Goldblatt.
“In fact, as this poll shows, Americans would be more likely to penalize than support legislators who boycotted his upcoming address. President Barack Obama has sought to cast Netanyahu’s acceptance of an invitation to address Congress as a slap in the face. But it isn’t. The issue is entirely a product of President Obama’s policy on Iran, which engenders bipartisan concern in Israel.
“Put simply, President Obama seems willing to tolerate an Iranian nuclear weapons threshold capacity — but Israel is not. “President Obama was glad to have British Prime Minister David Cameron urging Members of Congress last month in support of his Iran policy, but is peeved to have Mr. Netanyahu there critiquing it.
“The argument that President Obama is widely supported for his pique and unwillingness to have the Israeli Prime Minister address the Congress on this matter of first importance to the security and existence of Israel — as well as the security of the United States — is decisively refuted by this poll.”
VIDEO:
Chuck Freilich, a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center at Harvard’s Kennedy School and former Deputy National Security Adviser in Israel speaks about the “Netanyahu Divide.”
i don’t think that the way to convince the american government about iran is to make a fight with the government and force yourself on them to come only two weeks before election!!!
Actually, all Obama cares about is making a deal with Iran. He wants to be known as a “great diplomat” who can make a deal with an enemy of the U.S. and does not care how bad the deal is or the consequences of that deal. That’s why he got so angry that Netanyahu will be speaking to Congress because it can derail his deal with Iran. (Obama is delusional about the threat of terror and Muslims, which makes the chance for a good deal impossible.) Obama has thrown aside Israel in favor of the evil Iran. So Obama said… Read more »
That’s very nice, except that Israel is an independent state. The Rebbe never suggested that Israel request permission from the United States to defend itself.
Obama is a liberal, and as such, does not want to be labeled a “war mongerer”. I believe that if Israel would take action on Iran, he would go quietly into his little corner and keep his mouth shut.
Netanyahu wants the U.S. to take care of the Iranian threat, and that is not going to happen.
That was fabulous. Post it in more places
Wow
Excellent #2. Don’t fear people, fear only HaShem and do what is good! We have plenty of enemies, how about smiling at other Jews while shopping, getting groceries etc. and mean it!!!!! Plus not just those you know. Let’s show the world we can live Ahavas YIsrael! Afterall we are in the days where we should help one another being a minority of all minorities! Try this you’ll like yourself more being more of a minch and pleasing HaShem at the same time! B”H!
Once there was a King in Shushan, the most powerful ruler in the world, who had a strong disdain, dislike or perhaps even hatred of Jews. Today there is a President in Washington, the most powerful ruler in the world, who has a strong disdain, dislike or perhaps even hatred of Jews. Once there was a Persian who wanted to kill all the Jews, but needed the King’s authorization to proceed with his plan. Today there are Persians who want to kill all the Jews, but needs the President’s authorization to proceed with their plan. The King didn’t really care,… Read more »
The fact that that some people think that bringing in one of the most experienced experts on Iran and the Middle East is “a republican attempt to make Netanyahu look stronger” is a clear case of emotions ruling logic in the liberal culture. So much for ‘humanitarians! Those people feel safe because Iran is a continent away and they have no concern for people on the other side. Their concern is just to delegitimize Netanyahu due to their own personal agendas.