America – I Love You!

Why am I so in love with this country? Because of its people.

There has been much discussion recently about eroding support for the Jewish State. The signs are everywhere. Academia - permeated with leftist ideologues- is rife with anti Israel –pro Palestinian sentiment.

Some entertainers have succumbed to pressure to boycott Israel too by left leaning pro-Palestinian groups. Most recently Meg Ryan canceled an appearance there.

And some mainstream Christian Churches have been advocating divestment with Israel too because of the ‘occupation’.

Not to mention the Obama administration’s recent fallout with the Jewish State over settlement issues. (That has been somewhat reversed.)

And the mainstream media forever focuses on the plight of the underdog Palestinians while criticizing Israel.

And then there some of are our own people- like J-Street and the Peter Beinarts of the world - who may as well just join the Palestinian Authority since their views about peace are so closely aligned with theirs.

But the American people are not buying any of it. How do I know? George Gallop told me:

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Support for Israel among Americans is at a near record high, a new poll showed.

According to the Gallup Poll, 63 percent of Americans say their sympathies in the Middle East conflict are with Israel, while 15 percent side with the Palestinians. The rest favor both sides, neither side or have no opinion.

Support for Israel was higher only in 1991, shortly after Israel was hit with Scud missiles during the Gulf War, when it was at 64 percent.

The poll, conducted in early February, was part of Gallup’s annual World Affairs survey in which Americans were asked a series of questions about their opinions of 20 countries or entities, including Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Israel’s ranking, at 67 percent favorable, was among the highest of the countries surveyed. The Palestinian Authority, at 20 percent, was among the lowest.

Support for Israel increased more among Republicans and independents than Democrats, the poll showed. Since 2001, there has been an increase of 25 points among Republicans and 18 points among independents. Support for Israel among Democrats has stayed about the same.

Asked whether peace eventually will be reached in the Middle East, 67 percent of respondents answered “doubtful” and 30 percent said “there will come a time” when there will be peace.

In a general trend over the past 10 years, Democrats were more optimistic than Republicans about the chances for peace. Thirty-nine percent of Democrats said it will come; 25 percent of Republicans agreed.

Pollsters conducted telephone interviews with a random sampling of 1,025 American adults between Feb. 1 and 3. The poll has a 4 percent margin of error.