ISRAEL: Absentee voting exit polls

Update on the overseas vote from Israel (see previous post):

The exit polls show a very strong preference for John McCain over Barack Obama. The polls, carried out   and analyzed by Keevoon, a Jerusalem-based research, strategy and communications firm, indicate that 76% of the polled voters in Israel said they voted for Republican candidate John McCain; 24% said they cast their ballot in favor the Democrat, Barack Obama. The information is based on data collected from 817 absentee voters at several voting events in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv as well as an online survey.

A few interesting figures about the voters:

• A clear correlation was noted between religious observance and voting pattern.
• Turnout among young voters ages 18 to 34 was high (37%)
• 31% were first-time voters
• 25% have lived in Israel for more than 15 years, 33% less than one year
• 52% are also Israeli citizens
• Half are either independent or not registered with either party

A few interesting figures about their vote:

• 
  46% of Democrats crossed party lines to vote for McCain.
  Only 2% of Republicans voted for Obama. And
  57% listed foreign policy (including Israel) as the most important factor in their consideration; 14% listed the economy; 7%, Iran; and 6%, the war in Iraq/terrorism.
  Nearly two-thirds were 'very concerned' with Iran; 93% agreed that a nuclear Iran would be a threat to the U.S.

Perhaps most interesting is that McCain is viewed as more capable of handling challenges, even among Obama voters.

Mitchell Barak, founder and CEO of Keevoon, said the margin was interesting "because it was so broad-based. It wasn't just New York and not just Republicans voting for McCain. His support was pretty consistent across the board demographically and geographically among the different states," as well as among those who live in Israel both permanently and temporarily.

Dena Lerner, project manager for Vote From Israel, the nonpartisan organization that encouraged voting and commissioned the poll, said the exit poll gave people "the opportunity to publicly voice their opinion in a manner that can be heard and recognized."

A different poll published in Israel this week surveyed the positions of Israelis on the U.S. elections. Asked whom they would vote for if they could, 46.4% answered McCain, 34% Obama, and 18.6% were undecided. More respondents answered that McCain would be better for Israel and would better handle the Iranian issue. More respondents believe Obama will handle the economic crisis better, and the two candidates scored nearly identitically on the question of who would be better for Israel on the subject of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Earlier today, Danny Ayalon, former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., told Israel radio that, either way, relations between Israel and the U.S. would not suffer. "The common interests, shared values and history of good relations" are strong, he said.

-- Batsheva Sobelman in Jerusalem

Source for data and graphics above: Keevoon Research, Strategy & Communications. With permission. Click images to enlarge.

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Comments

[muslem]

hamas defened on them land ,it is not israel land it is the palastine land ,so we will take it back by our simple guns ,,,,,today we win the war & w will take juresulem back enshala

[amermominisrael]

If America should be only focused on AMERICA then don't get involved in ISRAELI politics.... It's a two way street...You guys want the US president to have America's interests at heart first then tell the US officials to stop telling Israel to split their country in half.

[amermominisrael]

If America shouldn't be so concerned about Israel then they shouldn't be pressuring Israel to give up their country piece by piece....

[Richard Koppel]

The poll you are discussing came out the way it did for the simple reason that it polled conservative Jews who attended election events thrown by McCain supporters. See http://legalramblings.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/goldfarb-gets-it-wrong-again/

This is almost as bad as whatFox News pulled inn order to show a 6 point tightening in the race, by dropping the number of democrats polled and increasing repubs polled. That is discussed at
http://legalramblings.wordpress.com/2008/10/30/foxs-polling-fraud-exposed/

[amermominisrael]

For all those that think that israel is a warring country... I guess we are the ones that are using bulldozers or private vehicles to kill... or we are the ones that bomb themselves up in busses just to kill a whole busload of innocent people....I could go on and on and on...

Israel contributes to many parts of society... When is the world going to stop letting the Arabs BULLY the world into hating Israel. They use the oil as a string to put around ppls's fingers...

The Israelis want to live in peace but the Palestinians want to wipe Israel off the map...

Israel gives palestinians soo much and they just spit in our face.

[Arie Bakker]

Remember, "We the People of the United States of Ameria" with no other allegiance to other countries should have the right to vote in US elections. CAn we make any clearer?

[Susan]

Thank you for letting me know that a majority of Israelis prefer McCain! It vindicates my opinion that Obama will have a more balanced foreign policy instead of a traitorous one that sides with Israel regardless of its conduct. A fair policy that will make my country safer since the world will take notice that America stands by her values above all else. When Israel is behaving fairly, we will support her. When Israel is behaving like an oppressor, we will condemn her (and stop giving her $3 Billion per year).

Had I needed another reason to vote for Obama, this is it!

[Lex]

If you stand against Israel, God's chosen people, you stand against God; and if you stand with Israel, you stand with God. McCain is a firm supporter of Israel, whereas Obama has waiverd with supporting Israel. I stand for America, Israel and McCain.

[Bringthanoize]

McCain's dad was instumental in the USS Liberty cover up when Israel attacked and killed Americans looking to blame it on Egypt(9/11 anyone?) to catapult America into a war. Mossad motto- "by way of deception though shall wage wars"

1917 Balfour declaration, 1918 British invasion of Iraq(Baghdad), 1948 Britished sponsership of Israeli statehood in British Palestine- connect the dots as modern day Middle East conflict is a rerun on past events.

The US shouldn't support Israeli's oppressive policies this is the United States of America not Israel.

The reason alot of folks are anti US is the one sided US foreign Middle East policy that has historically rewarded the nuclear power state of Israel ie Mordechia Vanunu, for wanton actions.

Whenever a nation does anything illegal or immoral it uses national security as said justification.

Not to mention that most modern Jews originate from the Khazars and converted to Judism around 780 AD under then Khazar King Bulan. Making them Yaphetic not Semetic- do the DNA math. Arabs are the Semites here not the mostly descended Eastern European Khazar Jews who make up the current nation of Israel.

[Jon]

um, "christopher" you appreciate the comments of "joe" because he is a fellow Israel basher (if it isn't you under a second phony name- lol)

you're numbers are all innacurate smears

and you conveniently omit all the wasted billions / year that
our tax money pays for Egypt and other unfriendly countries....

what's our return on that money from the great human rights regime in Egypt?

[Quincy]

It’s a shame to see some people use words like anti-Semitism or Holocaust denial to accuse others in defending some clear mistakes made by Israel. Holocaust is a horrifying persecution and genocide took place in human history.

Remember Nachem Goldman? He's one of the founders of the Jewish state and the Zionist movement and one of the elder statesmen, a very honest man, he -- just before his death in 1982 or so -- made a rather eloquent and unusual statement in which he said that it's -- he used the Hebrew word for "sacrilege" -- he said it's sacrilege to use the Holocaust as a justification for oppressing others. He was referring to something very real: exploitation of probably the world's most horrifying atrocity in order to justify oppression of others. That kind of manipulation is really sick.

Please see http://www.chomsky.info/books/dissent01.htm to read more on this regard.

[annie c]

THANK YOU Jon-proud-voter-for-McCain-in Jerusalem!! We (DUH) - know that Israel has no electoral votes --- that's exactly the POINT!! "DUH" - BACKATCHA, Holmes!!!

[Christopher]

I appreciate the comments posted by Joe. Just to give you some facts on this issue. While it is commonly reported that Israel officially receives some $3 billion every year in the form of economic aid from the U.S. government, this figure is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many billions of dollars more in hidden costs and economic losses lurking beneath the surface. A recently published economic analysis has concluded that U.S. support for the state of Israel has cost American taxpayers nearly $3 trillion ($3 million millions) in 2002 dollars.

Organizations such as AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) is one of the most active lobbies at Washington. When our elected leaders putting Israel's interests (such as Sara Palin, John McCain, George Bush...) we as American suffer and pay the ultimate price.

The worst is the money we paid out went to help Israel develop state terrorism, torture of its neighboring nations. For over half a century Israel has illegally occupied Palestine land and continues to, because of US support. We need to put responsible, and just leaders in the office not individuals like Joe Liebermann who jumps from party to party to work for the interests of Israel. After all, this is the American election and it’s about the future of America. America can only prosper if we are willing to stand on truth and justice. We will not be able to lead if our leaders miss-lead.

[Jon]

Wow. Lot of anti-Semitic / racist comments above....

I voted in Israel, here as an exchange student.

a. these are American in Israel - not "israelis"
Israelis are not "warmongering" no matter how much you try to smear it that way in wirds and innuendo.

b. DUH - Israel has no electoral votes - but AMERICANS overseas who vote have a right and obligation to participate in the American democratic process and their votes are attached to their home states.

c. And just cause some American voters haven't drank the Obama kool aid, whether they are in America or Israel, is not a cause for all the negative sleazy comments,,,

Jon
Jerusalem
Proud voter for McCain

[Adam]

Or maybe more Israelies are voting for McCain because McCain doesn't have extensive ties to people who are anti-semetic. Actions do speek louder than words. Just a thought.

[mary 961@comcast.net]

iam ajew and i hate war you oabma people all you do is spread hate the world would be a better place without your kind

[Peter]

Great McCain can be your PM. You still don't have one, do you?

[Sad Sight]

Nice to see the 'tolerance' among the liberal LA Times readers. Jews/Israelis are warlike, warmongering, murdering settlers. Who exactly is has been compromised by the propaganda?!?

Looks more like a Brownshirt convention to me. I can foresee public anti-Jew violence country if this government gets any more left. My 5-year old son had a brick thrown through his Jewish Day School window yesterday in Chicago. He explained to me that someone accidentally dropped a brick through his classroom window. imagine my joy in eventually needing to explain to him that people like the readers posting here hate him - and just for what he believes - NOT the color of his skin...

Sick!!!

[Jonny Ben-Lol]

Cute how so many Obama supporters have decided to use thinly-veiled anti-Semitism to explain the preference of most Israeli-American individuals for McCain.

"Israelis are bullies..." - Bob.

"They have a nasty habit of trying to kill everything..." - MissLadyLiberty

"Israelis are extremely warlike." - Hilary

[Charles lee]

why not what record has Obama have, only words

[Reality Check]

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE? I can't believe y'all are believing in this OBAMA. Y'all are so NAIVE. I'm not from Israel and I'm not even jewish but Israel is not a warring country. They are just being realistic. How would you like if you're neighbor has been saying that they are going to KILL you and then start buying guns. Is that ok with you? I bet you'd move the next day. They don't have that option. Reality is EAST hates the WEST. No matter what he say, Obama's foundation is ISLAM. Even if we don't want to go to war, EAST WILL TRY AND KILL ALL OF US.

[Gary Sherman Oaks]

I am a former Angelino living in Israel, and voted Obama. I wasn't polled by these guys, and guess many like me also were not. Some of the anti-Israeli comments are counter-productive. Peace Now!
Gary

[Adrian P]

The firm that conducted this poll, Keevoon, is run by Mitchell Barack, a former member of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) which advocates for Jewish support of the Republican Party. The RJC have been trying to link Obama to Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Prior to starting Keevoon, Mitchell Barack worked on campaigns for Netanyahu and Sharon and has even run for the Knesset himself, as a conservative.

In my opinion, his polls are engineered to influence Americans and Israelis into supporting the Republican party.

Read his own words here:

http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2006/01/23/News/Alumnus.Fails.In.Bid.For.Israeli.Knesset-1493154.shtml

[Dr. Donna]

The above comments clearly betray the Jew hate amongst Obama's hard core Far Left supporters who have co-opted the Democratic Party. In case you don't realize..These virulent Obama "volunteers" troll the blogsphere comments sections 24/7 - day and night attacking anything that moves.
Their anti-Israel stance is well known. Obama will eventually have to pay back these Far Left lunatics for their endless, rabid, attack-dog support by letting the ayatollahs have their way with Israel. That is why Jews in Israel prefer McCain.

[SaveAmerica]

Looks like 76% have NOT drank the cool-aid the Democrats have blended together with deception, money, and help from the media.
(Even the elect will be deceived.)