The findings, based on a study by Professor Kenneth D. Wald of the University of Florida and University of Texas Professor Elizabeth A. Oldmixon, were presented Wednesday at a conference on The Religious Dimension in World Politics, organized by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Israel's Bar-Ilan University.
The study analyzed voting in the House of Representatives from 1997 to 2002. It found that "in a very short period of time, support for Israel became more partisan, more ideological, and more religiously driven."
It noted widespread support for Israel in both houses. Now, "support for Israel was overwhelming, with many more Democrats and African-Americans supporting than not supporting Israel," the researchers wrote.
Jewish senators and legislators in the United States with large Jewish constituencies have been among Israel's strongest supporters.
Blacks and Jews were political allies during the civil rights movement, but their relationship strained in recent years, the report said. "Some African-Americans have begun to identify with groups that they regard as victimized by American power abroad, including the Palestinians," the study said.
"African-Americans may be more likely to identify with what they perceive to be a landless, oppressed group," they added.
In the 105th Congress, from 1997 to 1998, liberals were Israel's strongest supporters, "perhaps ... because they viewed Israel as the more vulnerable group." However by the 107th Congress, between 2001 and 2002, "It is not Jews, Democrats and liberals who are carrying Israel's banner in the House. Rather, it is Jews, evangelical and fundamentalist Protestants, Republicans and ideological conservatives," the researchers wrote.
"We might expect evangelicals to be relatively less supportive of Israel because ... they hold negative opinions about Jews," the report said referring to several studies published since 1966.
Nevertheless, "The unwavering support for Israel of born-again Christian politicians such as (House Majority Leader) Tom DeLay and President Bush is explained by reference to their 'devout religious beliefs,'" they wrote.
Oldmixon told the conference she suspects the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington made congressmen "more sensitive to domestic terror threats faced by Israel. For the neo-cons it's more an admission, 'We need to go get them.' For the religious conservatives this was ... not really strategically motivated. It was more from the standpoint, 'Look at these godless terrorists,'" she said.
The changing attitude towards Israel could divide the Democratic Party, since Jews, blacks, and liberals have been at its heart for decades, the researchers wrote.
They cautioned the Jews against relying on the evangelicals as "an unwavering source of support for Israel."
"What would happen to this support if Israel decided to withdraw from part or all the West Bank?" they asked.
They quoted Republican Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, as having said the battle in the West Bank is not political but "A contest over whether or not the word of God is true."
"Does this mean that by going against the word of God in this or other ways, Israel would give up her right to American support?" the researchers asked.
"Secular (American) Jews and other secular Americans who care deeply about Israel must be cautious about relying too heavily on evangelical support," they concluded.
Copyright 2003 by United Press International.
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