topic by
real watcher
5/9/2002 (9:58) |
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TOBY HARNDEN, DAILY TELEGRAPH, LONDON - Ariel Sharon was among friends
in Washington, where pro-Israel sentiment is stronger than ever and
Christian conservatives are forming close ties with Jewish groups. In
opinion polls, on right-wing talk radio and in the editorial columns of
the liberal press, support for Israel is unswerving. Last Friday, some
250 Christian leaders from across America gathered at the Israeli
embassy in Washington.
'Some very interesting alliances are forming,' said Gary Bauer, a
prominent Christian conservative. 'Many evangelicals believe that the
land of Israel is Covenant land that was promised by God to the Jewish
people. I believe Israel and the United States have got a confluence of
interest. We're both democracies, and I see Israel, as I see Great
Britain, as a defender of Western civilization.' For the time being,
differences with Jewish groups over issues such as abortion has been set
aside. . . . More than half of Americans sympathize with Israel; only
14 per cent with the Palestinians.
Jewish groups exert a political influence disproportionate to the two
per cent of the population they represent. Ten out of 100 senators are
Jewish, and congressional staffers on Capitol Hill privately concede
that to vote against Israel is financial, and therefore political,
suicide for an American politician.
Even a hint of criticism of Israel in the media provokes a furious
response. Jews have cancelled subscriptions to the Los Angeles Times,
and in Boston contributions to National Public Radio have been withdrawn
because of what was seen as pro-Palestinian reporting.
. . . Mr Bush is considered the most pro-Israel president since Ronald
Reagan and some Jewish leaders who have previously voted Democrat have
said they will back him in the 2004 election. Democrats usually capture
80 per cent of the Jewish vote but polls are showing that Republicans
are picking up some of this support.
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