Color War Stats
“Today, less than a month before the planned evacuation, public opinion polls show that two-thirds of Israelis support the Gaza withdrawal,” boasts Uri Avnery, head of the fringe left Gush Shalom organization, in an Op-Ed yesterday in the International Herald Tribune (“Israel’s war of the colors”).
Polls? In other words more than one? And do any polls turn up difference results?
A quick survey shows that Avnery cited the one poll that suited his needs, and ignored all this rest.
Thus, a June 29 poll carried out by Dahaf and printed in Yediot Achronot on July 1 showed that 62 percent of Israelis support the disengagement and 31 percent oppose it. So, Avnery is vindicated, right?
Not so fast. Unfortunately for him, a number of other polls have a much lower figure for disengagement support, at just over 50 percent.
1) A June 29 Shvakim Panorama poll found that 53.4 percent support the disengagement plan and 40.2 percent are opposed.
2) A June 28 Telesker poll published July 1 in Ma’ariv founnd 54 percent favor disengagement and 34 oppose it.
3) The June Peace Index of the Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research at Tel Aviv University found that 54 percent of Israelis support the plan, and 41 percent are opposed.
4) A July 20 poll by Maagar Mochot (Brain Base) for Israel Radio’s “Another Matter” found that 52 percent support the disengagement and 30 percent are opposed.
There’s nothing like reporting the facts selectively to make your political point.
On a separate but related matter, Avnery makes the absurd statement that:
While almost all of the orange faction fly their ribbons proudly from the antennas atop their cars, many of the blues hang theirs lower, from the side mirror or door handle, where they are less conspicuous.
More from SNAPSHOTS
Double Standards: Boycotts and Discrimination in MassLive
May 16, 2025
Anti-Israel activists, including Harvard University’s Lara Jirmanus, a clinical instructor, seem to struggle with the concept of “discrimination.” Quoted in a May 14 MassLive article, “Harvard ‘failed to respond’ to 450 discrimination complaints. Staff hand-delivered [...]
Swarthmore Students Are Learning: It Was Never About Palestinian Rights
May 14, 2025
Students at Swarthmore College are so close to understanding the conflict. An article in the Swarthmore Phoenix details the frustrations of student activists with the college’s Students for Justice in Palestine. The gist of their criticism is [...]
AFP Arabic Stops Mislabeling Northern Israeli Communities ‘Settlements”
August 10, 2021
A view of Metulla, northern Israel (Photo by Hadar Sela)After failing to set the record straight last May when Agence France Presse's Arabic service repeatedly referred to Jewish communities in northern Israel as "settlements," the [...]
NY Times Praises Ilhan Omar’s Book While Glossing Over Her Antisemitism
August 19, 2020
A recent New York Times book review boosts Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) autobiography while glossing over her antisemitism. In the paper’s Aug. 16, 2020 edition, NYT reporter Christina Cauterucci writes: The memoir offers breathing room [...]
When TV Interviews of Ilhan Omar Constitute Journalistic Malpractice
August 11, 2020
Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) documented animosity toward Jews and Israel was ignored in recent interviews by MSNBC and C-SPAN. MSNBC’s The Beat for July 23, 2020 included host Ari Melber’s 10-minute conversation at 6:16 [...]
Boston TV Station WCVB Teamed Up With Terrorist Supporter CAIR
July 7, 2020
WCVB-TV (channel 5) (Boston’s ABC network affiliate) recently misled area viewers about a matter involving antisemitic propaganda. This occurred on its local Sunday show Cityline hosted by Karen Holmes Ward who is described by the [...]
Harper’s Magazine Echoed Palestinian Propaganda Condemning Israel And America
June 2, 2020
Writing in Harper's, Kevin Baker condemns the U.S. Middle East peace plan [“The Striking Gesture,” Easy Chair, May 2020], mischaracterizing it as, “Give up all your [Palestinian] hopes and your holiest places, embark on a [...]