The Arab-Israeli Conflict in American Political Culture

This book surveys discourse and opinion in the United States toward the Arab-Israeli conflict since 1991. Contrary to popular myth it demonstrates that US support for Israel is not based on the pro-Israel lobby but rather is deeply rooted in American political culture. That support has increased since 9/11. However the bulk of this increase has been among Republicans conservatives evangelicals and Orthodox Jews. Meanwhile among Democrats liberals the Mainline Protestant Church and non-Orthodox Jews criticism of Israeli policies toward the Palestinians has become more vociferous. This book works to explain this paradox.