European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 15, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse \. Regard for Israel slips an israeli Border policeman and an Arab Mother face each other in Jerusalem behind an increasingly ambivalent mood of americans toward Israel is a flood of contradictory images that come out of die country. By William e. Schmidt new York times l Ike Many americans Donald Power Long counted himself an admirer of Israel. A Federal labor mediator who lives in Saginaw mich., he marvelled at the courage and spirit of the Small nation a fledgling democracy so imperilled yet so determined to survive. Butin recent years Power says his regard Forl Srael has waned. He has come increasingly to see the Middle Eastern nation As arrogant and even oppressive in the Way it has handled the protests by palestinians on the West Bank and How it has dealt with its Arab neighbors. A i Don t think they deserve All the support and the Aid we give them Quot said Power. Quot maybe its time to say we re tired we re poor we have our own people without . Powers concerns Are not unusual they Are reflected in a new York times lbs news poll and in discussions with americans in Many cities in recent weeks and these soundings All show some erosion in americans regard for Israel a Keystone of the special relationship that country has enjoyed with Washington since its founding in 1948, there is still an enduring Core of support for Israel especially when considered in relation to its Arab neighbors but americans no longer Side strongly with Israel against the palestinians within its Borders. The majority of americans who say they favor sustained financial and military Aid to Israel has been reduced and a growing minority now advocates More sympathy for the concerns of palestinians inside Israel. Supporters of Israel in Congress and among jewish organizations acknowledge that israelis backing within the United states is not As deep As it once was reflecting a tangle of factors such As Israel s role in putting Down protests on the West Bank and in the Gaza strip and the perception that Israel is no longer so strategically important Given the fading of the soviet threat. Foreign Aid decisions by Congress do not always follow every twist in popular opinion and influential pro Israel lobbying groups have helped to Shore up official support for Israel despite the changes in Public mood. The House of representatives for example voted overwhelmingly last month to sustain Aid to Israel at current Levels estimated to be nearly $4 billion annually. David a. Harris the director of the office of government and International affairs for the american jewish committee in Washington said some of the slippage was perhaps predictable a we created a mythical image for Israel that neither Israel despite All of its remarkable achievements nor any other nation could Ever live up to Quot he said. Some jewish groups also argue that erosion in support is Only a temporary phenomenon mirroring among other things what they describe As unfair reporting that depicts Israel As the villain on the West Bank. Quot there is a cause to be watchful Quot said Stanley b. Horowitz president and chief professional officer of the United jewish Appeal Quot but the values which we share with Israel Are so Strong i am not deeply worried. Support for Israel will shoot up according to the results of the times lbs news poll conducted by Telephone june 5 to 8 among 1,084 people 61 percent advocated sustaining or increasing Levels of Aid to Israel. The poll had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage Points in a Washington Post Abc news poll in 1989, 72 percent favored keeping Aid at or above the same level. This continuing though diminished majority support was reflected in the View of Elmer g. Daniels a jewish businessman interviewed in suburban Baltimore Quot i would do virtually anything to assist Israel Quot said Daniels. Quot it is the Only democracy in the Region and the Only country that has been without equivocation an ally of the ., representing our interests but 47 percent of those questioned in the times lbs news poll say they now support giving the palestinians a Homeland in the occupied territories of the West Bank and the Gaza strip a proposal which the israeli government of prime minister Yitzhak Shamir opposes. In a 1988 los Angeles times poll 40 percent favored a palestinian Homeland. The slippage in Opinion is even More dramatic when it comes to internal or Domestic turmoil in Israel in a 1988 times lbs news poll when asked whether the United states should be More sympathetic to the concerns of palestinians in Israel the american Public said no by a two to one ratio but in last months poll american Public opinion was split. When it comes to israelis external Security however americans continue to favor Israel Over its Arab neighbors by a wide margin 40 percent in the latest poll say they Are More in sympathy with Israel while 19 percent say they Are More in sympathy with the Arab nations. But even that is a reduced advantage compared with past surveys. The Roper organization asking the same question showed As High As a five to one advantage for Israel in the 1970s. Despite the growing willingness to show sympathy. Toward the palestinians however Many of those interviewed said they still harboured Sharp suspicions particularly about Vassar Arafat and some of the Arab leaders. Gene Mossner a lawyer in Saginaw said he regarded the israeli government As stubborn and intractable but he did not Trust the palestinian leadership either. Quot my sympathy is toward the people but i am not sure about Arafat or Many of the others Quot he said. Quot there Are no moderates on either these shifts in Public opinion have not gone unnoticed in Congress. Rep. Lee h. Hamilton of Indiana the second ranking Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee said that while americans still support a close relationship with Israel Quot there is a More of a doubt in some areas a resentment of our High Levels of assistance of Israel is the most obvious target of those broadly opposed to foreign Aid he said because it receives More help than any other country. Quot i done to think there is a seismic change Quot said Hamilton. Quot but none the less there Are clearly changes taking place both within the american jewish Community and the Public in in april the Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole of Kansas provoked a Sharp debate when he said his colleagues should be willing to consider cuts in american Aid to Israel. Dole said at the time that some of his fellow senators Are privately As critical of israeli policy As he is. Quot i know people and i know they won t say it out loud Quot he said. Quot but they la grab you in the cloakroom and Tell you you re right. I can t say it because i m running a or when in be been Here As Long As you have i la be Able to say Quot in part the volatility in american Public opinion toward a Israel reflects the More turbulent relations Between the israeli government and the Bush administration which has taken a More adversarial role in trying to fashion a Middle East settlement. In Saginaw or. Senen . Asuan a physician from the Philippines said he shared the frustration of the Bush administration. Quot Israel has behaved like a spoiled child Quot he said. Quot it could ask anything under the Sun and Uncle Sam would give it the Thomas Murphy a production worker from Garfield n.j., said he once was a Strong Backer of Israel. Quot but they Arentt the Little boy on the Block anymore who need our help Quot said Murphy. Quot they have the right to exist but not to expand their Borders. Just As the arabs once threatened to push them into the sea now they Are trying to push the arabs off their Charles Victor Mcteer a civil rights lawyer from Greenville miss., says the United states ought not to give so much support to a government that refuses to negotiate with its adversary. Quot it s easy for me As a Black american to make a leap Between Israel and the palestinians on the West Bank and South Africa and its Black majority Quot said Mcteer. Quot at least the South africans Are behind the ambivalent mood is a flood of contradictory images that come out of Israel itself these Days israeli soldiers firing on Young palestinian protesters on the West Bank and in the Gaza strip armed guerillas from an extremist palestinian faction mounting an unsuccessful speedboat assault on crowded Holiday beaches the Sharp and sometimes angry political divisions within Israel itself Over what should be done with the occupied territories. But More and More americans changing opinions about Israel Are also being shaped by events far beyond Middle East. For some the end of the cold War and the fading of the soviet threat has raised doubts about the need to subsidize Israel and other foreign clients to the degree America has in the past. There Are those who argue that Money ought to be spent inside the United states. Page 16 the stars and stripes sunday july 15, 1990
