# Why is support of Israel such a huge requirement for American politicians? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 9, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-support-of-israel-such-a-huge-requirement-for-american-politicians/480604 "2009-01-09T22:53:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-support-of-israel-such-a-huge-requirement-for-american-politicians/480604/121 "2009-01-17T01:04:37Z")
> [@Sevastopol](#): > > Who ever argued the US’s support was the sole or only reason? That’d be [you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10701172&postcount=111). I know, people who casually distort facts in order to support an agenda need really good memories. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-support-of-israel-such-a-huge-requirement-for-american-politicians/480604/122 "2009-01-17T02:56:48Z")
> [@Sevastopol](#): > > Always the personal attacks. If you think that constitutes a personal attack feel free to report me. Mods can always use a good laugh. > [@](#): > > Who ever argued the US’s support was the sole or only reason? **Stink Fish Pot** did. Post #79, which you took issue, was a response to him: [QUOTE=Stink Fish Pot] Would those airliners have been hijacked if we were not perceived by the arab world to be blindly supporting Israel? [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Me] Yes, they would have. Islamic radicals have stated on many occasions what their goals and ambitions are, and why they oppose America. The Palestian issue is among those reasons, but it is far from the only one. Osama Bin Laden’s primary grieviences were the first gulf war, the enforcement of UN sanctions on Iraq, and the presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia. [/QUOTE] Your response was that [QUOTE=you] In a number of places it is plain that support for Israel is key reason for the hijacks. [/QUOTE] You left off the critical article – it it’s “A key reason” I agree. If it’s “THE key reason” – the decisive one without which nothing would have happened, which is what **Stink Fish Pot** was saying – I disagree, and have given both the words of the people that did it and the 9/11 commission as support. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-support-of-israel-such-a-huge-requirement-for-american-politicians/480604/123 "2009-01-17T04:58:04Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > In what Universe is this a fact. A theory, perhaps. But a fact?! Wow… without blinking even. > > And even as a theory stinks of dishonesty. As anyone remotely familiar with US Senate and Congress politicians and their dealings. > > While at the subject of “mirroring the sympathy” (what a phrase attached to a politician :eek:), how do you explain NY senator flying to Florida to “persuade” certain strong block of voters to vote for Obama? Despite their non-sympathy for the Democratic candidate for reasons so un-American. Plenty of facts to support that theory, cited in the article I quoted. So far, you have quoted nothing, other than accusations of dishonesty and some disconnected irrelevant ramblings about Obama, in refutation. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-support-of-israel-such-a-huge-requirement-for-american-politicians/480604/124 "2009-01-18T23:34:44Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Plenty of facts to support that theory, cited in the article I quoted. > > So far, you have quoted nothing, other than accusations of dishonesty and some disconnected irrelevant ramblings about Obama, in refutation. US public being sympathetic to Israel is not such a stronghold as it is portrayed or some wish for. Also, Lieberals tend to be the least sympathetics group. > **[Americans Not Pressing for Bigger Role in Gaza Conflict](https://news.gallup.com/poll/113707/Americans-Pressing-Bigger-Role-Gaza-Conflict.aspx)** > > Only 33% of Americans say the Bush administration should step up its response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict raging in the Gaza Strip. Also, 75% say Barack Obama should wait until he’s sworn in to voice his position on the matter. On the subject of roots of the “sympathy”, there are numerous cites (just too humongous I dont know where to begin) to the top 2 reasons: (1) originally Cold War calculations and strategic moves and (2) recently Christian Fundamentalists in US. Having Pentagon planners and largest voting block is what keeps this relationship alive. No spy scandal can detract that. Any other idea, including sympathy stemming from similar experiences while in theory plausible, simply pales when history of the support is brought up. In other words, while it can be pointed out NOW to these similarities, it is aligned purely by chance. Because when we lookup into historical reason of various Administrations for initial Israel support (which, just like “hate” for Cuba carries over from one Administration to another) it was the deciding power of the two reasons mentioned above. And now, when new “big red scare” replacement needs to be cultivated, having Israel in the thick of it is a godsend. As you can see, I’m in “Israel conspiracy” contrarian group that thinks Israelis (like many other including for example Saudi royal family) are being manipulated by US elites. But that’s a whole different discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-support-of-israel-such-a-huge-requirement-for-american-politicians/480604/125 "2009-01-18T23:59:35Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > US public being sympathetic to Israel is not such a stronghold as it is portrayed or some wish for. Also, Lieberals tend to be the least sympathetics group. > > [Americans Not Pressing for Bigger Role in Gaza Conflict](http://www.gallup.com/poll/113707/Americans-Pressing-Bigger-Role-Gaza-Conflict.aspx) > > On the subject of roots of the “sympathy”, there are numerous cites (just too humongous I dont know where to begin) to the top 2 reasons: (1) originally Cold War calculations and strategic moves and (2) recently Christian Fundamentalists in US. Having Pentagon planners and largest voting block is what keeps this relationship alive. No spy scandal can detract that. > > Any other idea, including sympathy stemming from similar experiences while in theory plausible, simply pales when history of the support is brought up. In other words, while it can be pointed out NOW to these similarities, it is aligned purely by chance. Because when we lookup into historical reason of various Administrations for initial Israel support (which, just like “hate” for Cuba carries over from one Administration to another) it was the deciding power of the two reasons mentioned above. > > And now, when new “big red scare” replacement needs to be cultivated, having Israel in the thick of it is a godsend. As you can see, I’m in “Israel conspiracy” contrarian group that thinks Israelis (like many other including for example Saudi royal family) are being manipulated by US elites. But that’s a whole different discussion. Americans have, through polls, always and consistently favoured Israel, and the percentage in favour has generally increased over time: > **[Republicans and Religious Americans Most Sympathetic to Israel](https://news.gallup.com/poll/22063/Republicans-Religious-Americans-Most-Sympathetic-Israel.aspx)** > > Sympathy for the Israelis in the Middle East conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is highest among Republicans, conservatives, whites, and those who attend church frequently. Other groups in American society are more likely, in general, to... Sympathy for Israel was lowest in 1988 (first year polled) and highest in 2006 (last year polled), with 1991 being an outlier. While the numbers are greater for “Conservatives” versus “Liberals” (an aggrigate of 2002-2006 numbers show 2/3 of “conservatives” favour Israel versus 43% of “liberals”), the numbers who favour Israel are higher in both groups (among “Liberals” polled, 43% favour Israel vs. 25% favouring Palestinians and 31% don’t know). Similar with religion. In short, while the _vast_ majority of Conservatives and Religious types pretty well favour Israel, Liberals and the non-religious _also_ tend to favour Israel - albeit not as overwelmingly. While the reason for this support stems from many sources, a commonality of experience, it is to be suggested, is the only thing that can explain why non-religious liberals _still_ tend, on average, to favour Israel. No need to posit unlikely conspiracy theories. Naturally, few politicians are likely to go against what the majority of their constituents believe to be right. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-support-of-israel-such-a-huge-requirement-for-american-politicians/480604/126 "2009-01-20T11:53:53Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > …In short, while the _vast_ majority of Conservatives and Religious types pretty well favour Israel, Liberals and the non-religious _also_ tend to favour Israel - albeit not as overwelmingly… Interesting correlation between susceptibility to superstition and favouring. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-support-of-israel-such-a-huge-requirement-for-american-politicians/480604.md?page=6)