The 14 Jewish Vote National Post-Election Jewish Survey November 5, 14
Methodology National survey of 8 Jewish voters in 14 election conducted November 4, 14; margin of error +/- 3.5 percent National survey administered by email invitation to web-based panel of 9, Americans; respondents re-screened as Jewish at beginning of questionnaire in order to be eligible for the study Demographic data closely aligns with the demographic data in the 13 Pew Jewish National Survey; minor differences due to the differences between general population and midterm election voters Figure 1
Key Findings Ø Overwhelming Democratic support in an election that had large Republican gains, demonstrating the core progressive values held by American Jews. Ø Heading into 15 and 16, Jews strongly support President Obama and Hillary Clinton. Ø Most Jews believe construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank should be suspended or restricted to certain areas. Ø High awareness of the Iranian negotiations, and broad support for an agreement that allows nuclear development for civilian purposes, places international inspectors at Iranian nuclear facilities, and reduces sanctions on Iran as it meets compliance benchmarks. Ø Major backing for a final status agreement along the lines of the Clinton parameters and subsequent negotiations. And Jews support the US presenting this agreement and asking Israelis and Palestinians to use this framework as the basis for returning to negotiations. Figure 2
14 Jewish Vote Figure 3
14 Jewish Vote Result 1 Congressional Vote 9 8 7 69 28 1 Democratic Candidate Republican Candidate Figure 4
Jewish Congressional Vote Consistently Democratic 1 Jewish Congressional Vote 9 8 7 66 69 69 1 31 1 12 14 28 Figure 5
1 and 14 Election Results Comparison Between Jewish and Other Constituencies % Democrat / % Republican Democratic Vote Shift 1 12 (Obama/Romney) 14 1 to 14 Total 45 / 52 51 / 47 Not Yet Available -- Jewish 66 / 31 7 / 69 / 28 +3 Unmarried women 61 / 38 67 / 31 / 38-1 Hispanics / 38 71 / 27 63 / 35 +3 Voters under years-old 55 / 42 / 37 54 / 43-1 College Graduate 45 / 53 / 48 48 / +3 Independents 37 / 56 45 / 42 / 54 +5 Whites 37 / 39 / 59 38 / +1 No religion 68 / 7 / 26 69 / 29 +1 Other religion 74 / 24 74 / 23 67 / -7 Catholics 44 / 54 / 48 45 / 53 +1 Protestants 38 / 59 42 / 57 38 / + White Evangelicals 19 / 77 21 / 78 21 / 78 +2 Figure 6
What Drove the Jewish Vote Figure 7
Country Direction Do you think that things in this country are going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track? 1 9 8 7 57 43 1 Right Direction Wrong Track Figure 8
Fluctuating Jewish Mood over Direction of the Country 1 9 9 8 7 64 54 59 56 66 55 57 36 46 41 44 34 45 43 1 1 July 8 March 9 August 9 March 1 November 1 July 11 November 12 November 14 Right Direction Wrong Track Figure 9
Top TWO Issues in Deciding 14 Vote The economy 44 Health care 31 Social Security and Medicare Terrorism and national security 17 The deficit and government spending 16 ISIS and the situation in Iraq and Syria 13 The environment 12 Education 1 Taxes 1 Israel 8 Immigration 7 Separation between religion and state 7 Energy 3 Iran Figure 1
Obama and Congress Job Approval Do you approve or disapprove of the job President Obama/Congress is doing? 1 Obama Job Approval 1 Congress Job Approval 9 9 8 7 8 7 82 57 43 42 53 47 1 24 12 Jewish voters All voters 1 18 3 Jewish voters All voters (Unavailable) Strongly approve Total approve Strongly disapprove Total disapprove Strongly approve Total approve Strongly disapprove Total disapprove Figure 11
Jewish Voters Have Much More Favorable View of Obama s Job than Rest of the Population Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president? 1 9 8 7 1 57 43 42 53 Jewish Voters All Voters (Gallup) Figure 12
1 Obama Job Approval Jewish Voters vs. Total Population 9 8 7 73 72 62 53 62 43 46 67 57 42 1 March 9 August 9 March 1 November 1 July 11 November 12 November 14 Jewish Voters Total (Gallup) Figure 13
9 8 7 1 Congressional Approval Time Series 72 73 74 28 27 26 82 18 November 1 July 11 November 12 November 14 Approve Disapprove Figure 14
Favorability Ratings 8 ID:88 ID:77 ID:46 61 48 - - - Hillary Clinton -31 The Democratic Party -38 Barack Obama -44 The Republican Party -71 12 1 1 John Boehner Mitch McConnell Sheldon Adelson -65-56 - -8 Favorable Unfavorable Figure 15
16 Presidential Race If the election were held today and the candidates were Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Jeb Bush, for whom would you vote? If the election were held today and the candidates were Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Rand Paul, for whom would you vote? 1 1 9 9 8 8 7 69 7 71 1 24 1 22 Hillary Clinton Jeb Bush Hillary Clinton Rand Paul Figure 16
Attitudes Toward US Role in Resolving the Conflict Figure 17
United States Role in Resolving Arab-Israeli Conflict 1 9 8 85 7 72 74 48 52 46 54 28 26 1 15 Active role Even if disagree with both sides Even if disagree with Israel Even if exert pressure on both sides Even if exert pressure on Israel Support Oppose Figure 18
Support for a Two-State Solution (SPLIT A) I support a two-state solution that declares an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, resulting in all Arab countries establishing full diplomatic ties with Israel and creating an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. 1 9 8 7 1 78 81 79 82 8 22 19 21 18 July 8 August 9 November 1 November 12 November 14 Agree Disagree Figure 19
Support for a Two-State Solution with East Jerusalem as Capital of Palestinian State (SPLIT B) I support a two-state solution that declares an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, resulting in all Arab countries establishing full diplomatic ties with Israel and creating an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, with its capital in East Jerusalem. 1 9 8 7 1 78 79 7 72 22 21 28 August 9 November 1 November 12 November 14 Agree Disagree Figure
Two-State Solution Necessary for Israel s Security and Jewish Democratic Character A two-state solution is necessary to strengthen Israeli security and ensure Israel s Jewish democratic character 1 9 8 7 1 82 75 77 81 78 25 23 18 19 22 July 8 August 9 November 1 November 12 November 14 Agree Disagree Figure 21
Two-State Solution Important for American Security A two-state solution is an important national security interest for the United States. 1 9 8 7 1 81 81 76 72 75 28 24 19 19 25 July 8 August 9 November 1 November 12 November 14 Agree Disagree Figure 22
Majority Support Comprehensive Peace Agreement As you may know, on a few occasions during the past 14 years, Israeli, Palestinian, and American negotiators came close to reaching a final status peace agreement but ultimately fell short. The details of that agreement include: A demilitarized Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Internationally recognized borders based on the borders that existed in 1967, with mutually agreed land swaps that allow for most Jewish settlers in the West Bank to be inside Israel while the Palestinians get comparable land areas in return Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem become part of the new Palestinian state while Israel retains control of Jewish neighborhoods and the Western Wall in Jerusalem International forces to monitor the new Palestinian state and border crossings Financial compensation for Palestinian refugees while allowing some refugees to return to Israel if they meet specific family reunification criteria and the Israeli government approves the Palestinians recognize Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people, and Israel recognizes the Palestinian state as the nation state of the Palestinian people 1 9 8 7 1 76 26 Support Strongly support Strongly oppose 24 7 Oppose Total support Total oppose Figure 23
Steady Support for Peace Agreement Do you support or oppose such an agreement? 1 9 8 7 1 76 72 76 57 43 24 28 24 March 9 July 11 November 12 November 14 Support Oppose Figure 24
Support for Peace Agreement by Denomination 1 9 8 82 87 7 72 66 1 28 18 4 8 34 31 28 23 12 13 4 Reform Conservative Orthodox Unaffiliated Strongly Support Strongly Oppose Total Support Total Oppose Figure 25
Support for Peace Agreement by Age 1 9 8 7 72 77 1 28 29 21 23 2 9 Under Under Years Years Over and Over Strongly Support Strongly Oppose Total Support Total Oppose Figure 26
Support for Americans Presenting Draft Agreement As you may know, negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians broke down earlier this year. Would you support or oppose the United States presenting a draft agreement along the parameters described above, and asking Israelis and Palestinians to return to negotiations based on these parameters? 1 9 8 7 1 77 31 23 6 Strongly Support Strongly Oppose Total Support Total Oppose Figure 27
Support for US Presenting Draft Agreement by Denomination 1 9 8 82 86 7 72 1 55 45 42 32 28 24 21 18 14 3 8 9 4 Reform Conservative Orthodox Unaffiliated Strongly Support Strongly Oppose Total Support Total Oppose Figure 28
Support for US Presenting Draft Agreement by Age 1 9 8 7 72 79 1 35 28 22 21 5 7 Under Under Years Years Over and Over Strongly Support Strongly Oppose Total Support Total Oppose Figure 29
US Jews Oppose Settlement Construction Based on what you know about Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which of the following statements comes closest to your own point of view. Israel should build Israeli settlements in any area of the West Bank that it wants Israel should suspend construction of Israeli settlements that are outside the core settlement blocs, but continue construction in areas that are already developed Israel should suspend all construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank 28 52 8% Total Suspend 1 7 8 Figure
Gaza Figure 31
Strong Support for War in Gaza Do you approve or disapprove of Israel s military action, known as Operation Protective Edge, that took place in Gaza this summer? 9 8 7 8 47 1 Strongly Approve Somewhat Approve 5 Somewhat Oppose Strongly Oppose Figure 32
Protective Edge / Cast Lead Approval Comparison (9) Do you approve or disapprove of the recent military action that Israel took in Gaza? (14) Do you approve or disapprove of Israel s military action, known as Operation Protective Edge, that took place in Gaza this summer? 9 8 7 1 75 8 47 25 9 5 9 14 Strongly Approve Strongly Disapprove Total Approve Total Disapprove Figure 33
Support for Protective Edge by Age 9 8 84 7 71 1 52 35 29 17 7 5 Under Years Years and Over Strongly Approve Strongly Disapprove Total Approve Total Disapprove Figure 34
Protective Edge Effectiveness Regardless of whether you approve or disapprove of the military action that Israel took in Gaza this summer, do you think it made Israel more secure, less secure, or had no impact on Israel s security? 9 8 7 55 31 1 More Secure No Impact Less Secure 14 Figure 35
Protective Edge / Cast Lead Effectiveness Comparison (9) Regardless of whether you approve or disapprove of the recent military action that Israel took in Gaza, do you think it made Israel more secure, less secure, or had no impact on Israel's security? (14) Regardless of whether you approve or disapprove of the military action that Israel took in Gaza this summer, do you think it made Israel more secure, less secure, or had no impact on Israel s security? 9 8 7 1 41 55 41 31 18 March 9 November 14 14 More Secure No Impact Less Secure Figure 36
Protective Edge Effectiveness by Age Regardless of whether you approve or disapprove of the military action that Israel took in Gaza this summer, do you think it made Israel more secure, less secure, or had no impact on Israel s security? 9 8 7 1 54 55 32 27 12 Under Years Years and Over More Secure No Impact Less Secure Figure 37
Prime Minister Netanyahu Figure 38
Netanyahu Favorability 7 Favorability Ratings: Benjamin Netanyahu 1 58 27 19 44 22 33 47 53 24 March 9 Aug. 9 March 1 Nov. 1 July 11 Nov. 12 Nov. 14 Favorable Unfavorable Figure 39
Impact of Netanyahu Policy on US Relations Do you think Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s policies have helped Israel s relations with the United States, hurt Israel s relations with the United States, or had no impact on Israel s relations with the United States? 7 21 1 Helped No Impact Hurt Figure
Impact of Netanyahu Policy on US Relations by Denomination Do you think Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s policies have helped Israel s relations with the United States, hurt Israel s relations with the United States, or had no impact on Israel s relations with the United States? 7 1 46 46 41 41 38 36 37 27 22 17 8 Reform Conservative Orthodox Unaffiliated Helped No Impact Hurt Figure 41
Impact of Netanyahu Policy on US Relations by Age Do you think Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s policies have helped Israel s relations with the United States, hurt Israel s relations with the United States, or had no impact on Israel s relations with the United States? 7 42 41 39 39 1 17 22 Under Years Years and Older Helped No Impact Hurt Figure 42
Iran Figure 43
Most Have Heard about First Step Iran Deal As you may know, the United States, Britain, Germany, France, China, and Russia last year reached a first step agreement with Iran to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for modest relief from sanctions. How much have you heard about this agreement? 1 9 8 7 1 16 A great deal of information 48 6 Some information Not much information No information Figure 44
Strong Support for Agreement with Iran Imagine that the U.S., Britain, Germany, France, China, Russia, and Iran reach a final agreement, which restricts Iran's enrichment of uranium to levels that are suitable for civilian energy purposes only, and places full-time international inspectors at Iranian nuclear facilities to make sure that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons. Under this agreement, the United States and our allies will reduce sanctions on Iran as Iran meets the compliance benchmarks of the agreement. Would you support or oppose this agreement? 1 8 84 32 Strongly Support Somewhat Support 16 6 Somewhat Oppose Strongly Oppose Figure 45
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