FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 27, 2008
Contact:
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi: 202-857-6644, jenniferm@theisraelproject.org
Meagan Buren: 202-857-6671, meaganb@theisraelproject.org
www.theisraelproject.org

STRICT EMBARGO: For Release 3 p.m. MDT (Denver)/5 p.m. EDT (D.C., NY) Wed.,
Aug. 27

New U.S. Poll: 63 Percent of U.S. Voters Support Military Action Against
Iran if Diplomacy Fails

According to a new poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Greenberg
Quinlan Rosner Research and commissioned by The Israel Project:

87 percent of American voters say if Iran developed nuclear weapons it would
pose a threat to the U.S.;
90 percent say if Iran acquired nuclear weapons, it would share the
technology or materials with terrorist organizations;
81 percent say the international community should try to prevent Iran from
further nuclear research;
62 percent feel there is still an opportunity to pursue a diplomatic
solution with Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons;
55 percent say they would approve of the United States and its allies making
targeted strikes against Iran's nuclear weapons facilities;
63 percent say if diplomacy fails, they would approve of Israel taking
targeted military action against Iran's nuclear sites to prevent Iran from
getting a nuclear weapon;
69 percent say America should be a supporter of Israel and only six percent
say America should be a supporter of the Palestinians.

Washington, D.C. - A new bipartisan poll commissioned by The Israel Project
(TIP) shows that Americans across the political spectrum see the Iranian
regime as a threat to the U.S. Fully 85 percent of Democrats and 97 percent
of Republicans believe Iran represents a serious threat to the U.S.

A total of 91 percent of American voters agree Iran poses a threat to
Israel; the percentage jumps even higher - to 96 percent - when respondents
were asked whether a nuclear-armed Iran poses a threat to Israel. Another 83
percent view this threat as serious. Similarly, 87 percent of American
voters say a nuclear-armed Iran poses a threat to the U.S.

Fully 90 percent of Americans believe Iran will likely share nuclear
technology or materials with terrorist organizations if it obtained nuclear
weapons. Additionally, 80 percent of Americans say it is likely Iran would
use nuclear weapons if it acquired them. American voters oppose Iran's
development of a civilian nuclear research program, with 71 percent of the
public strongly in favor of international efforts to prevent such a program.

Among those polled, 62 percent say an opportunity to pursue a diplomatic
solution with Iran still exists. However, 55 percent of Americans would
approve of the U.S. and its allies making targeted conventional military
strikes against Iran's nuclear weapons facilities, with nearly a third of
Americans strongly approving of such action. In addition, if economic and
diplomatic action does not stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology, and
Iran acquires medium-range missiles and a nuclear capability, 63 percent of
Americans say they would also approve of Israel taking targeted military
action against Iran's nuclear sites.

The poll shows that negative feelings about Iran are rising in the U.S. and
Germany: 77 percent of likely American voters hold an unfavorable attitude
toward Iran, and 64 percent of Germans view Iran unfavorably. Moreover,
attitudes toward Iran are consistently negative in the UK, with 39 percent
of the British public holding a negative view of Iran.

"Americans, the British and the Germans worry about the direct threat to
Israel from Iran and fear Iran's potential to share nuclear technology with
terrorist groups," said Stan Greenberg of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research.
"All countries want diplomacy over military action to address this threat.
The Germans oppose military action for historical and cultural reasons and
the British do not want another Iraq. Yet the Americans are more open to
military action, especially if a diplomatic solution fails to become a
reality."

Said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, founder and president of The Israel Project,
"The threat of a nuclear Iran isn't a Democratic issue or a Republican
issue - it's a concern for all peace-loving people who don't want to live
under the constant threat of a nuclear attack by an unstable regime and its
terrorist proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas. Let us not forget that Iran is the
world's largest state sponsor of terror and continually threatens to attack
the U.S. and Europe."

Mizrahi also said the international community needs to work harder to keep
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from realizing his goal of gaining
nuclear capabilities, particularly as he threatens to annihilate Israel and
trigger a catastrophic war between countries in the Middle East and the
West. "The nuclear clock is ticking faster than the diplomatic clock and
time is running out," Mizrahi said.

Threats by Iran's president to wipe Israel off the map and Iran's funding,
training and arming of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas worry
Americans, the British, and Germans. Iran's threats against Israel and its
promises to share nuclear technology with terrorist groups are of particular
concern to Americans and Germans.

American support for Israel vis-a-vis the Palestinians is at an all-time
high of 69 percent, and only six percent support the Palestinians. Americans
say they feel close to Israel, ranking it only behind Canada and the UK.
Israel's image has steadily increased among German opinion elites during the
past two years, as 40 percent now view Israel favorably.

The national survey of 800 U.S. likely voters was conducted by telephone
July 23-27, 2008. The national omnibus surveys of 1,001 German adults and
229 opinion elites and 995 UK adults and 158 opinion elites were conducted
July 18-22, 2008. The surveys were commissioned by The Israel Project and
carried out by Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies and Stan Greenberg
of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. The margin of error for the U.S. poll
is +/- 3.5 percent; the margin of error for the UK and German polls is +/- 3
percent.

Earlier this week, The Israel Project launched a major TV and print campaign
at the Democratic National Convention in hopes of pushing for diplomatic and
economic measures that can help prevent war. The ad, which will also air
during the Republican convention next week, will focus on the threat of a
nuclear Iran. The Israel Project does not rate or endorse any candidates.

The nuclear Iran ad (click here to view) along with a second one about
U.S.-Israel efforts to develop alternative energy technologies (click here
to view), will run more than 1,300 times overall on CNN, CNN's Headline
News, FOX NEWS, MSNBC and other networks at the Democratic convention in
Denver Aug. 25-28 and the Republican convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul
Sept. 1-4. The Israel Project also began running its alternative energy ad
Aug. 25.

The print campaign includes informational fliers about the threat of a
nuclear Iran and alternative energy technologies. The front of the nuclear
Iran flier shows a photo of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, posing
the question, "Just one man's opinion?" The other side states, "Actually, it's
government policy" and explains that support for terrorist groups, Iran's
avid pursuit of nuclear technology and hatred of Israel and the West are
doctrine shared by the highest echelons of the Iranian government. It also
contains numerous quotes by Iranian leaders backing up that doctrine with
their own words. A second piece about Iran shows a ticking bomb where time
is running out and explains the dangers of a nuclear Iran.

The alternative energy flier depicts a gas pump where the prices are an
"Arm," a "Leg" or "Both." The back contains information on Israel's
pioneering efforts to cut reliance on Middle East oil.

The Israel Project has a team of 22 people on site at the Democratic
convention wearing blue T-shirts stating "I love Israel" and "I want peace"
as they distribute materials about both the threat posed by Iran and the
opportunities of alternative energy. The Israel Project will do the same at
the Republican convention.

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The Israel Project is an international non-profit organization devoted to
educating the press and the public about Israel while promoting security,
freedom and peace. The Israel Project provides journalists, leaders and
opinion-makers accurate information about Israel. The Israel Project is not
related to any government or government agency.

Board of Advisors: Sen. Evan Bayh (IN), Sen. Ben Cardin (MD), Sen. Saxby
Chambliss (GA), Sen. Tom Coburn (OK), Sen. Norm Coleman (MN), Sen. Susan
Collins (ME), Sen. Judd Gregg (NH), Sen. Joe Lieberman (CT), Sen. Ben Nelson
(NE), Sen. Gordon Smith (OR), Sen. Arlen Specter (PA), Sen. Ron Wyden (OR),
Rep. Rob Andrews (NJ), Rep. Shelley Berkley (NV), Rep. Tom Davis (VA), Rep.
Eliot Engel (NY), Rep. Frank Pallone (NJ), Rep. Jon Porter (NV), Rep. John
Sarbanes (MD), Rep. Jim Saxton (NJ), Rep. Brad Sherman (CA), Rep. Joe Wilson
(SC), Actor and Director Ron Silver