Advocacy - Does it Make a Difference?
The other day someone in our Ohio Advocacy group posed an interesting question about our legislative advocacy on the Israeli - Palestinian conflict arguing for a Two State Solution and speaking on behalf of the Palestinians. "Does it really make a difference?" he asked. A lot can be said in response to this, but a good place to start is with the polling data on the Middle East conflict which is displayed above.
According to 2006 polling data at the Pew Research Center, the US public is consistently pro-Israel (First box). The Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project demonstrates a strong plurality of opinion in favor of Israel, while support for the Palestinians is consistently in the low teens. In contrast, their polling data indicates significantly higher support for the Palestinians in other countries, and lower support for Israel.(Second box-Mideast Sympathies) For example, France splits the difference with 38% for each side while Great Britain indicates higher support for the Palestinians than for Israel with 29% indicating sympathy for the Palestinians in contrast to 24% for Israel.
The other day someone in our Ohio Advocacy group posed an interesting question about our legislative advocacy on the Israeli - Palestinian conflict arguing for a Two State Solution and speaking on behalf of the Palestinians. "Does it really make a difference?" he asked. A lot can be said in response to this, but a good place to start is with the polling data on the Middle East conflict which is displayed above.
According to 2006 polling data at the Pew Research Center, the US public is consistently pro-Israel (First box). The Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project demonstrates a strong plurality of opinion in favor of Israel, while support for the Palestinians is consistently in the low teens. In contrast, their polling data indicates significantly higher support for the Palestinians in other countries, and lower support for Israel.(Second box-Mideast Sympathies) For example, France splits the difference with 38% for each side while Great Britain indicates higher support for the Palestinians than for Israel with 29% indicating sympathy for the Palestinians in contrast to 24% for Israel.
Polling numbers like these suggest that it is very difficult to make a case for the Palestinians, for the concern over the growth of settlements, and for the continuing domination of their territory, at least in the United States where much of the Jewish- Israeli power resides. While it is true that various administrations have at least raised concerns over the continuing growth of settlements, they have gotten no results either with the U.S. Congress or the Israeli government. Israel continues to get grants of unconditional financial and military aid, and Israel continues to build settlements and expand their presence in the West Bank. The lack of sympathy for the Palestinians, and strong support for Israel is not by accident. In addition to AIPAC and the broader pro-Israel lobby, there is a whole range of other organizations and operations that work to rally support for Israel, and generally at the expense of the Palestinians.
*Polling Data Bibliography Jodie T. Allen and Alec Tyson, “The U.S. Public’s Pro – Israel History: In Mid East Conflicts, Americans Consistently Side with Israel,” The Pew Research Center Publications, July 19, 2006. http://pewresearch.org/pubs/39/the-us-publics-pro-israel-history
Does it make a difference, our letters, notes and phone calls to Congress arguing the case for a Two - State Solution to the Israeli - Palestinian conflict, and speaking in defense of the dignity, rights and well being of the Palestinians? Clearly, the polling data make a strong case for the need for Congress to hear something other than an exclusive, unequivocal, unapologetic advocacy for Israel only.
Imagine this scenario. You are running for political office, a Congressional seat, for example. In a public forum you express concern for the rights and well being of the Palestinians. In most Congressional districts you would quickly lose a lot of viability as a political candidate. On the other hand, in many Congressional districts, you would be expected as a candidate to demonstrate strong support for the security and well being of Israel. Palestinians are one half of the equation for peace in the Middle East. However, as the data suggests, they are either ignored, forgotten, and/or vilified by the media and in public discourse.
Does it make a difference? This is a critical time in the Middle East conflict, and especially because we now have an administration that is demonstrating a more balanced approach to the key adversaries in the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. President Obama has made a strong endoresement for the realization of the Two State Solution, and he has made it very clear that the growth of Israeli settlements in the West Bank must stop. It is important now for members of Congress to hear another voice speaking on behalf of the Palestinians and of the need to resolve the conflict with the realization of a two - state solution.
A more recent discussion of attitudes and opinons toward Israel and the Palestinians is available at this link.
http://people-press.org/report/482/israel-hamas-conflict This was written in light of the Gaza military action by Israel in Gaza, and the subsequent crisis that has developed there. The date is Jan. 13, 2009.
Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky GAP Organizer
Churches for Middle East Peace - CMEP
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