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Poll Shows Israelis Fear Country’s Destruction in Case of Iran War

Sep. 27, 2012 7:58am Sharona Schwartz

The American delegation to the UN boycotted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech to the UN General Assembly Wednesday but his words appear to be having a chilling effect on the Israeli public.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz conducted a poll published Thursday which shows half of Israelis “fear for the state’s existence” should a war with Iran erupt. A majority of the country’s citizens believe there is a “high” or “medium” chance of a war with Iran in the coming year. The poll was published to mark the Jewish New Year – Rosh Hashanah – which was celebrated last week.

Haaretz reports:

…half of Israelis say they either “fear” or “greatly fear” for the state’s continued existence if such a war breaks out.

Only a quarter of those questioned said they do not fear for the state’s future in a scenario in which Israel and Iran go to war. Something has evidently happened to Israelis’ famed self-confidence.

While the question of fear for the state’s existence has not been asked in previous opinion polls, it can reasonably be assumed that this is an exceptional finding. That should please Iran’s leaders, who have proclaimed several times recently that the Zionist state’s days are numbered.

Iranian leaders have repeatedly made genocidal threats against the Jewish state, most recently on Monday in New York when Ahmadinejad told reporters Israel has no roots in the Middle East and would be “eliminated.”

Last month, he called Israel a “cancerous tumor” that will soon be destroyed.

These are just a few examples of the numerous existential threats articulated by the Islamic Republic’s political, religious and military leaders.

A politician’s bluster is one thing, but taken in context of Iran’s nuclear program that is proceeding apace and its suspected clandestine military nature, it’s not surprising the anxiety among Israelis is increasing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invoked the Holocaust when discussing the Iranian threat, taking at face value the ominous words coming out of Tehran along with its nuclear activity in which sanctions appear not to have made a dent. This is why the Israeli leader has been so insistent the U.S. set red lines for military action, which the Obama administration has to now refused to do.

The Wall Street Journal in a Tuesday editorial noted “four years of failed diplomacy and half-hearted sanctions that he [Pres. Obama] opposed until Congress forced his hand” and asked: “Netanyahu has to take Iran’s words seriously. Why doesn’t Obama?”

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Comments (41)

TexPat
Posted on September 28, 2012 at 7:43am
Wait a minute the President of the United States, who reportedly has Israel’s back, in on the 18th hole and will respond after a campaign speech on the 19th hole.

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soybomb315_II
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:59pm
In the real world, there are consequences to war. In America, because of our distance to foreign countries – we think war is a cakewalk

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nocomment
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 2:00pm
A sizable portion of the Israeli population has been ‘diluted’ by weak-minded American style liberals.

You ‘reap what you sow’ libs. You’ll wake up when the sword is at your neck. Maybe.

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- sillyfreshness
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 2:09pm
  The “chosen people” have been backing Democrats, including Obama, for decades. They control the media and Hollywood and have been pushing for a Muslim sympathizing president by ignoring any mistakes he makes (because that might be racist) and focusing on his opponent. Now let them deal with it. Keep pushing your Kenyan born fraud Marxist-in-chief in your “chosen people” controlled Marxist Media. I don’t care. You’ll get what you deserve.
  
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cdn1979
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 12:59pm
the only way this would happen is if israel struck them first. what do you think will happen when you attack a country who has not attacked you first? They will hit back. go looking for trouble and you will get it.

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Rubicon9Phoenix9
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 12:58pm
Since Israel is so small a country, wouldn’t a nuclear bomb dropped anywhere in Israel cause contamination of Jerusalem, one of Christianity’s, Jewish, and Islam’s holiest site? If so, would Iran chance destroying their ability to fully access Jerusalem?

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- fireball58
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:36pm
  Palesttinians are considered white trash in the middle east. If that’s what it takes to destroy Israel, the rest of the region is all for it.
  
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allandwd
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:12am
Don’t bet on the “Clown In Chief” being replaced in November…I look around me and see a nation of fools and ignorant as hell people. I see people that don’t love this country at all. They only want to see its destruction. That’s why they voted for this traitor in the first place and will vote for him again…unfortunately they are just smart enough to vote him back in office for a second term.. I personally think this country is screwed !!! Sorry for the pessimism but its not looking good out there in my eyes… Just being honest..

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 11:20am
  Welfare creates an environment of failure. Eventually, all welfare nations, states, hit critical mass; more people taking than making. There is no other outcome possible. The end graph is logarithmic. We are near.
  
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- Chuck7884
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 11:51am
  @The_Jerk Welfare keeps the cities from imploding nothing more I.E thus a safety net.
  
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- The_Jerk
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 12:07pm
  Chuck7884, that’s short-term. Long-term, the nation will/must go broke. This is not a complex concept. All welfare states will fail, just a matter of time. The richer the nation, the longer it can last, providing all else is held constant. But, fail it will.
  
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- Chuck7884
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 12:18pm
  @The_Jerk true if those on it quit looking and and never find jobs.the money (cash) amount will kinda get you by food stamps will diffidently feed you as long as you have a home in which to cook it so staying on welfare works for those that have HUD housing which has been dissipating at a very high rate.with the cost of fuel and rentals (trucks) makes it hard to migrate to areas where there is more work I.E. Boom Town or States.
  
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- Pray_For_Us_All
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 4:17pm
  Jerk and Chuck,
  I can’t believe I agree with Jerk but he is right. To many people abuse the system and Obama made it easier by removing the work requirements to get on wellfare. This nation is going down because of wellfare and many other things. This generation feels entitled to things without working for them and we have a president that makes people despise those that have worked hard to earn what they have. Laziness is one of the seven deadly sins and this nation is full of lazy people. Don’t get me wrong, some people need help and we should help them, but a cell phone is not help, tv’s are not help. Wake up Chuck.
  
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- american warrior
  Posted on September 28, 2012 at 10:02am
  I agree 100%
  
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TruthMonkey
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 9:07am
Strike first and ask questions later.

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QuincySmith
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 9:07am
“Only a quarter of those questioned said they do not fear for the state’s future in a scenario in which Israel and Iran go to war. Something has evidently happened to Israelis’ famed self-confidence.” I think it can be explained in one word: oblama.

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tzion
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 9:01am
It’s starting to feel like 1967 all over again. Unfortunately, I can’t see the outcome being as magnificent this time around, especially considering the similarities to the preludes of both World Wars.

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 11:25am
  Good morning. It’s beginning to look more like 135 AD to me, The Bar Kokhba revolt. This is why people had better change. Zionism was/is not a good thing for the people.
  
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justangry
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:59am
All the things said by the Iranian whack-o sound bad, but this is a perfect example of the Blaze leaving stuff out. Considering Israel has threatened to PREEMPTIVELY NUKE Iran if we don’t go kick their ass conventionally for them.

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- jman-6
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 9:07am
  The only reason Bibi asked us to help is we wont sell them the new bunker buster or the command an control awacs. It is our fault that Iran is this far along as we held Israel back since 07 when they were gonna take it out when they took out Syria’s reactor.
  
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- justangry
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 9:25am
  Well they’re leveraging America to help, knowing any nuclear strike in Iran would be seen as an American attack according to the EU, and I’m not opposed to helping them out if they’re attacked by Iran. I’m opposed to preempted wars undeclared wars. I hope innocent Israelis can rid themselves of their militant leader as much as I hope we can rid ourselves of the hawks here. The stakes are too high for everyone thumping their chests and to be backing one another into a corner.
  
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- jman-6
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:04am
  With all do respect Israel can’t afford to wait on a nuclear attack as they are a tiny nation, and we can’t afford Iran giving nuclear dirty bombs to terrorists to set off here! Nobody likes war but alot of this is our fault because we’ve procrastinated so long because of politics! GOD SPEED
  
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- justangry
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:44am
  Bad **** happens. Grow a pair. Paranoia and propaganda are fanning the flames and only really serving the bankers/NWO and military industrial complex.
  
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- Mgindi26
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 1:02pm
  Just Angrry,
  Someone once said “you have the right to your own opinion, but you don’t ave the right to your own facts”.
  You claim that Israel has threatened to PREEMPTIVELY NUKE Iran if we don’t go kick their ass conventionally for them.
  FACT:Israel NEVER EVER IN ITS HISTORY threatened to use its nuclear arenal against any nation let alone Iran. Not only that but the United States has never gone to war for Israel. Israel has always fought their own wars with their own troops.
  FACT: The only country threatening to use Nukes in the region is Iran when they have them
  FACT: The only countries in the middle east that the United States went to war for are Kuwait and Saudi Arabia (Desert Storm), which by the way Israel paid the price for even though they weren’t participating by having 39 SCUD missles launched at it from Iraq. Israel was even told by the US not to defend its own people because then the Arab nations we were defending would leave the coalition.
  
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- justangry
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 2:02pm
  The source I looked at would suggest otherwise. I never said anything about past conflicts in the middle east. As far as I know NWO Bush pulled Machiavellian **** and it had nothing to do with Israel. I actually trust that source more than those vigorously trying to suppress it though.
  
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jman-6
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:56am
Remember what GOD said; I will make Jerusalem a rock that all who come against her will injure themselves! I think history has proven this over an over. GOD will use these events to turn Israel back to HIM! Keep your eyes open your fixing to watch the fulfillment of Psalm 83 an Isaiah 15! GOD SPEED

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- jman-6
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 9:59am
  whoops that should be Isaiah 17
  
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- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:25am
  One could conceive that this war could result in the destruction of holy sites…like the dome of the rock. If that should occur and Israel survives the war (which they will) would they rebuild an muslim shrine or perhaps the third temple?
  
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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:44am
Hey, Isralis, why not get a hold onto History, expecially The Bible, which was translated from the Hebrew, and Greek, and REALLY know where you stand as a Country, or Nation? Of course, some of you will die in a confrontation with Iran, or the Big country of the North, but, as a hold Israel will stand, even in the Tribulation (7-year). Remember, God, The Almighty caused Hilter to take out 6-million of you, just to get your attention; sending you to the Promised Land.

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The-Monk
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:41am
I guess if the US Government here started handing out gas masks to everyone here at least 50% would be afraid also.

Some people would just use them as a flower pot I suppose…..

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- JJF1961
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:12am
  Amen to that!! I don’t think most folks can really comprehend that possibility, Imagine Canada or Mexico’s president or PM nuking up, and publicly saying the United States will be wiped off the map, I don’t think we would be waiting around to see if there just kidding!!!
  
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JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:32am
Well, I think we all get the screwed factor if Obama is re-elected. Look, if this was important wouldn’t it be all over the mainstream media by now? Nope, your right, I didn’t make it half way through this rediculous question before I was laghing at it myself. So sad. God forgive the traders that lead your faithful Country for they know not what they are doing. Pray for a healing of this Country and pray for it’s future.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:31am
Israel has a lot of capabilities militarily but they’re surrounded by lunatic savages and it doesn’t look good for the civilized man. They’ll have to go nuclear that’s for sure.

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thetruthlives
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:29am
I totally support Israel. The evil islamist nations shall perish.

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Landon410
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:25am
i wouldnt put it past these nut jobs to wait until they have 5 or 6 nuc’s then drop all of them at once taking out a great deal of isreal.
obama is a jagoff and his laissez faire attitude toward Isreal speaks volumes of this man who calls himself a christian…..

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Strait Talk Express
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:23am
If I was in Israel I would tell them to double or triple military spending – buy as many weapons as they can to be the strongest military nation on earth – to make them so mighty and dangerous that NO other nation would EVER try and challenge them or even threaten them. That’s what I would tell them.

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- OhioRifleman
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 9:36am
  @ Strait Talk
  
  Only problem with that thought is that Israel is geographically small and nuclear weapons have a large footprint. It won’t take Iran more than a few to cause monster damage to both population and military arsenals.
  
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MiCurmudgeon
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:19am
Obama’s plan for peace in the middle east appears to be …..If there is no Israel , then there can be peace.

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single stack
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:16am
They have good reason to be concerned as long as the Islamists hold sway in Washington. That should change in January though.

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Gonzo
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:08am
I’m surprised it’s only 50%. 25% of the other 50% is probably bravado and the other 25% is just naievity.

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- kaydeebeau
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:30am
  Or perhaps those who aren’t fearful are relying on the promises to Israel found in God’s word (those who are actually observant Jews maybe)
  
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