Friday, December 14, 2007

Shifting sands

American Jews Believe Arabs Seek Destruction of Israel

According to the 2007 Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion, 82% agree that "The goal of the Arabs is not the return of occupied territories but rather the destruction of Israel"...

37% can envision Israel and its Arab neighbors settling their differences and living in peace, while 55% disagree. 36% said Israel should be willing to compromise on the status of Jerusalem in the framework of a permanent peace with the Palestinians, while 58% disagree.

The survey, sponsored by the American Jewish Committee, polled 1,000 self-identifying Jewish respondents on Nov. 6-25.
(American Jewish Committee)

2 comments:

LHwrites said...

I used to be more optimistic. Much like any prejudice, you need the children to think more broadly and freely and open minded. This is not the case in the Arab lands. They are being brought up to hate, and to kill themselves as long as they take more of the "enemy" with them. Until the Arabs value themselves and love their children too much to allow these things, who will lead the change into the future?

Bruce said...

Your last sentence sounds very close to a quote by Golda Meir, who expresse the same sentiment so many years ago.

In 1957, before the National Press Club in Washington, she said: "Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us."

Sadly, little of the basic dynamics have changed since then.