RJC: "Israel Gap" Widens: More Republicans Than Democrats Support Israel in Current Conflict
Washington, D.C. -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) responded to the release of a Pew Research Center poll today on the partisan gap in Israel-Palestinian sympathies.
The Pew poll found that among conservative and moderate Republicans, sympathy for Israel was at 77% and 64%. Among moderate and liberal Democrats, that sympathy was at 48% and 39%.
RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said:
For years, public opinion polls have documented the large gap in support for Israel between Republicans and Democrats, with Republicans being far more supportive of Israel. This poll shows a gap of 27 points. At the very moment that Israel is under attack, with over 1000 rockets launched against her in the last 8 days, fewer than half of the Democrats polled say they have more sympathy for Israel than for the Palestinians.
It is a sad and sobering confirmation of the Democrat Party's shift over time away from support of Israel, especially at its grassroots. If support for Israel ceases to be bipartisan, the U.S.-Israel relationship - which is of so much benefit to both countries - will suffer.