A recent AP-NORC poll has shed light on the deep divisions within the US Jewish community regarding Israel and Gaza. The survey found that about 7 in 10 Jewish adults identify as Jewish when asked about their religious affiliation, while the rest identify as Jewish through ethnic, cultural, or family ties.

Divided Views on Israel

Among Jews with a religious affiliation, views on Israel’s recent military actions are far from uniform. Only about half say Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza are justified, while about one-quarter believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. In contrast, about 4 in 10 religiously unaffiliated Jews say Israel has committed genocide, and only about 2 in 10 see Israel’s current operations in Gaza as justified.

The survey also found that Jews who regularly attend religious services are more likely to feel a connection to Israel and see its military actions in Gaza as justified. Additionally, younger Jews are less likely to see Israel as important to their Jewish identity, regardless of their Jewish affiliation.

Importance of Israel to Jewish Identity

Supporting Israel remains a fundamental aspect of many Jewish adults’ identity, with about half of religiously affiliated Jewish adults saying it is ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ important to their Jewish identity. However, this importance varies among different groups, with secular Jews being less likely to see Israel as central to their Jewish identity.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.