CITE SHARED VALUES AND TRADITION

 

Most Israelis back strike on Iran

Poll: 71% of Israelis want U.S. to strike Iran if talks fail
Haaretz Thursday, 6 September 2007 / Elul 23, 5767

By ALUF BENN

TEL AVIV — Fully 71 percent of Israelis believe that the United
States should launch a military attack on Iran if diplomatic efforts
fail to halt Tehran's nuclear program, according to a new poll.

The survey, commissioned by Bar-Ilan University's BESA Center
and the Anti-Defamation League, found that 59 percent of Israelis
still believe the war in Iraq was justified, while 36 percent take
the opposite view.

Some 65 percent believe that the United States is a loyal ally of
Israel, with only 11 percent saying the opposite. A slightly higher
proportion, 73 percent, described U.S. President George W. Bush
as friendly. Forty-eight percent attributed U.S. support for Israel
to strategic considerations, while 30 percent credited American
Jewry and 17 percent cited shared values and a shared democratic
tradition.

Regarding America's importance to Israel, there was near consensus: 91 percent said that close relations with the U.S. are vital to Israel's security. Some 51 percent of respondents predicted that the U.S. will ultimately impose an agreement on Israel and the Palestinians, while 43 percent disagreed.

In addition, 52 percent of respondents described American Jewish
support of Israel as "sufficient," while 33 percent did not.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/860903.html