Who are the 18% who support the murder of the six?

Overall the monthly survey released today (August was skipped and September released early) of the HarvardHarris poll shows continued wide support of Israel. 79% support Israel more than Hamas as opposed to 80% the month before. We should see this as good news and it shows that – as has every month since October – the overwhelming population in America is with Israel.

This month they have added a question – Do you think that the execution of hostages that are about to be rescued is a criminal or heinous act, or is it something that has been justified by Israel’s actions?

As you can see from the picture above – see the full report – 18% of those polled think the murder is justified by Israel’s actions.

I am a glass half full person and salute the fact that the vast majority of American’s of all ages and political persuasions are on Israel’s side but who are the 18% – extrapolated over the whole US population that means approximately 46 million people.

Polls are often unreliable but my guess is that these are the people spewing Anti Semitic and Anti Zionist rhetoric on the far left, far right and from fundamentalist groups and the demonstrators in the streets and in universities. It is perhaps indicative that the age range most negative of Israel on this question is not the 18-24 but the 35-44 age demographic – more the teachers than the students perhaps, more the parents than the kids

46 million is a lot of people. Even if it is not exactly 46 million, it is in the many tens of millions.

Like October 7th, the murder of the six hostages simply can’t be justified by any moral person, in my personal opinion of course. I am so pleased to call America and its people my ally but if this is the statistic in the US then I can only imagine what it is in other countries.

Food for thought and concern amongst otherwise positive news