JERUSALEM -- A new poll shows only 6 percent of Israeli Jews see President Barack Obama's administration as pro-Israel, while 50 percent see it as pro-Palestinian.
That is a dramatic change from the previous U.S. administration of George W. Bush, which 88 percent termed "pro-Israel" and just 2 percent labeled pro-Palestinian.
Many Israelis reject Obama's call for a total settlement freeze and have come to see him as overly sympathetic to Palestinian claims.
The poll, taken after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said for the first time he supported a demilitarized Palestinian state, found 36 percent of respondents viewed Obama as neutral.
Netanyahu's advisers and aides offered varying explanations for Israelis' negative view of Obama, ranging from blaming the media for focusing on the perception of strained relations between Washington and Jerusalem to the belief that Obama faulted Israel for the lack of peace in the Middle East.
Last week, Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported that the prime minister believes Obama wants to create a confrontation with Israel to help him improve relations with the Arab world, aides said.
This has been OBVIOUS from the moment he appointed people like Merrill Mcpeak, Brezhinski, and Powers. OVER A YEAR AGO. AS A CANDIDATE.
The stark reality is worse. Not only is he a believer in Walt and Mearsheimer...Rahm notwithstanding, Mr. Obama has a PROBLEM with people who happen to be Jewish, ESPECIALLY if they believe the absolute existence of AN Israel is compulsory in this world.
His long membership under his religious mentor leaves NO OTHER EXPLANATION POSSIBLE for the gestalt of his actions