Less than two-thirds of U.S. Jews have heard of the BDS movement and although most oppose the movement, 16 percent of them support BDS, according to a survey conducted by the Melman Group for the Ruderman family regarding antisemitic trends and the connection of American Jews to Israel.
Part of the survey was published yesterday (Monday) in "Israel Today".
Michael Bloomfield, who presented the main points of the survey, noted that 84% of American Jews define themselves as pro-Israel, but there is an increase in the proportion of Jews who criticize the conduct of the State of Israel. , Although at present it is a fairly identical rate of pro-Israel identities among supporters of both parties.
The data were presented at a special meeting of the "Lobby for Israeli-American Relations", which was founded by the Ruderman Family Foundation, following the recent antisemitic events in the United States, which took place yesterday (Monday) in the Knesset.
The event was attended by MKs and ministers as well as Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation, and Shira Ruderman, CEO of the foundation, who lead the lobby.
Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai warned during the discussion that the fight against anti-Semitism on the part of Israel is insufficient.
"The State of Israel is not doing enough about anti-Semitism. Israel must be at the forefront of the countries and bodies that fight anti-Semitism. Not because we think anti-Semitism will disappear tomorrow, but because the issue must not be left unsaid. "We are on a steady upward trend. We are locating more and more antisemitic events in the public sphere and also in networks that have become an incubator of anti-Semitism."
Knesset Speaker MK Miki Levy: "North American Jewry must not be lost. Unfortunately anti-Semitism continues to raise its ugly head, 3 and a half years after the terrible incident in Pittsburgh, the lesson has not been learned and only recently has a terrorist taken over the synagogue in Texas."
On the other hand, the Minister of Culture and Sports, Hili Trooper, said that there are ways to correct what is needed regarding the relations of Diaspora Jewry with Israel.
"I belong to the optimistic people, this is not a fate, in the right work, sensitive, complex, attentive to the pains of each side and the differences can strengthen the connection"
Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation: "Jews in America need to understand that Israel may not be perfect, but it is the only democracy in this part of the world and it has civil rights. And even if immigration to Israel is not a solution for most Jews in America, we must strengthen ties." .
Shira Ruderman, CEO of the Ruderman Family Foundation, praised the mobilization of all parties from across the political spectrum on this important issue and said: "This is a partnership of fate, and as such we must understand that this is a marathon and not a sprint.
"Through many actions, common values, language and mutual understanding, I believe that we can succeed together in raising a generation for which the Jewish people and the State of Israel are not separated from each other."
The chairman of the lobby, MK Ruth Wasserman Landa, who works alongside MK Tzachi Hanegbi as chairman, spoke of a disturbing decline in the support of American Jews in Israel: "The trend is to move away from the State of Israel.
In fact religious pluralism, anti-Semitism, the BDS movement and other challenges that are also related to Israeli and political policy towards American Jews are at the heart of things. We have a very big responsibility to take this thing and not just produce a roadmap, but make sure steps are taken. "For a successful relationship, we have no privilege to do otherwise. It is not a matter of right or left, but a strategic issue of Israel."
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