Jack Salzman, Cornel West Struggles in the Promised

African Americans and Israel \\ 365
or neither, and 39 percent did not know. These proportions shifted significantly
on the Israel-Palestinian comparison. Among whites, 35 percent expressed greater
sympathy for Israel, 15 percent for the Palestinians, 31 percent for both or neither,
and 20 percent did not know. Among Black respondents, 26 percent showed
greater sympathy for Israel, 15 percent for the Palestinians, 29 percent for both
or neither, and 30 percent said they did not know. In sum, both white and Black
respondents showed comparatively greater support for the Palestinians than for
the Arab nations in general; Black differentials in Israel over Palestinian sympathies
were somewhat lower than those of whites; but both groups still favored
Israel over both the Arab nations and Palestinians. These conclusions are reinforced
by another question in this survey: 41 percent of white respondents in May
1990 believed that Israel was right to refuse to negotiate with the PLO, 30 percent
said Israel was wrong to adopt this stance, and 29 percent did not express an
opinion. Among Black respondents, 26 percent thought Israel right to refuse to
negotiate with the PLO, 27 percent said Israel was wrong, and 35 percent had no
opinion. 30
The most negative findings reported on African American attitudes toward
Israel appeared in a November 1992 survey conducted by the firm of Marttila and
Kiley for the Anti-Defamation League. This study took place following a period
of tension between Israel and the United States over negotiations with the Arab
states and Palestinians and the status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Yitzhak
Rabin had been elected Prime Minister of Israel in June 1992, but his policies had
not yet begun to reverse the stance of the previous Likud government, as they did
later.
The survey clearly concluded, "Black Americans have among the least favorable
attitudes toward Israel of any demographic group." This evaluation stemmed
from several items on which Blacks scored significantly lower on pro-Israel ratings
than other respondents. Among what the survey called "the general public,"
34 percent had a favorable impression of the current Israeli government, while 36
percent had an unfavorable impression. Among Blacks, 18 percent had a favorable
rating and 42 percent an unfavorable one. By a fairly narrow margin of 44 percent
to 37 percent, the public at large believed that the United States should continue
to give preference to Israel in the Middle East, while only 28 percent of
Blacks agreed that this preference should continue and 42 percent disagreed. 31
In evaluating these results, it is necessary to understand that Blacks were by
no means unique in their responses. Indeed, the authors noted that a large part of
the "coalition of voters which propelled Democrat Bill Clinton to the White
House has neither much interest in the Middle East peace process nor good will
toward Israel." Thus, Israel received relatively high unfavorable ratings not only
from Blacks (42 percent), but also from liberals (44 percent) and voters under age
40 (42 percent). Liberals (45 percent) and Democrats (43 percent) joined Blacks
(42 percent) in feeling that there is no longer reason for the United States to give