The attachment of American Jews to Israel has weakened measurably in the last two years, a recent survey demonstrates, continuing a long-term trend visible during the past decade and a half.

The weakening is apparent in almost every measure of Jewish connection to Israel except for interest in visiting Israel, which showed a slight uptick, and a handful of others that were unchanged. Respondents were less likely than in comparable earlier surveys to say they care about Israel, talk about Israel with others or engage in a range of pro-Israel activities.

Strikingly, there was no parallel decline in other measures of Jewish identification, including religious observance and communal affiliation.

The survey found 26 percent who said they were "very" emotionally attached to Israel, compared with 31 percent who said so in a similar survey conducted in 2002. Some two-thirds, 65 percent, said they follow the news about Israel closely, down from 74 percent in 2002, while 39 percent said they talk about Israel frequently with Jewish friends, down from 53 percent in 2002. Those who talk about Israel frequently with non-Jewish friends dropped to 23 percent this year from 33 percent in 2002.

Those who had donated to an Israel-related charity during the previous 12 months dropped to 40 percent in the current survey from 49 percent in 2002. Attendance at an Israel-related program dropped to 22 percent from 27 percent.

Just 57 percent affirmed that "caring about Israel is a very important part of my being Jewish," compared with 73 percent in a similar survey in 1989.

The drop from 1989 appears consistent with a widely noted, long-term generational decline in attachment to Israel. However, generational change is unlikely to explain the dramatic shift during the last two years, which appears to reflect responses to current events in the Middle East.

Tellingly, as many as 37 percent agreed that they were "often disturbed by Israel's policies and actions," while another 30 percent were not sure. Just 33 percent said they disagreed, 4 percent of them "strongly."

The survey was conducted between December 14, 2004, and January 15, 2005, and included a representative national sample of 1,448 American Jewish households. It was sponsored by the Jewish-Zionist Education Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel.

Nearly all respondents were 25 or older and identified as Jewish by religion. The sample's demographic and Jewish identity characteristics closely resembled those of respondents identified as Jewish by religion in the United Jewish Communities' 2000-01 National Jewish Population Survey. Seventy percent said they attend a Passover Seder, 42 percent claimed synagogue membership, and 20 percent said they keep separate dishes at home for meat and dairy. Questioned on denomination, 9 percent identified themselves as Orthodox, 36 percent as Conservative and 40 percent as Reform.

While most expressions of emotional attachment declined from 2002, some travel-related indicators edged upward. There was a slight climb in respondents who said they planned to visit Israel in the next three years, from 12 percent to 15 percent, just outside the margin of error. A larger jump emerged in the number claiming to having encouraged someone to visit Israel, from 19 percent to 24 percent.

Some indicators of pro-Israel identification were virtually unchanged from the earlier survey. These include the proportions that made an effort to buy Israeli-made products (30 percent), and those who write to someone in Israel (19 percent).

The findings reflect an apparent reversal of a trend noted two years ago, when Palestinian terrorism reached a peak in 2002. At the time, many Israelis complained that although American Jews expressed heightened concern for Israel because of the violence, they were less inclined to visit. Now, it seems, concern has dropped, while readiness to visit Israel has increased.

American Jews traditionally profess a high degree of attachment to Israel. The intensity of that attachment varies considerably, however, ranging from warmth to deep passion, while a small group professes indifference or outright discomfort.

When asked how often they feel proud of Israel, the sample showed considerable range, with 28 percent answering "always," 38 percent "often," 29 percent "sometimes" and 5 percent "never." Half said they are often or always "excited" by Israel, and 12 percent said they are never excited by Israel. Slightly more than one-third said they are often or always "engaged" by Israel, while 47 percent said they are sometimes engaged and just 18 percent said they are never engaged.

At the same time, a sizable proportion expressed at least some negative feelings toward Israel. More than two-thirds said they are at least sometimes "disturbed" by Israel's policies or actions, and nearly as many said they are "confused." Almost half said they are at least sometimes "ashamed," and a full 39 percent said they are at least sometimes "alienated" by Israel.

Only 13 percent said they are "sometimes uncomfortable identifying as a supporter of Israel," with an additional 14 percent "not sure."

About two-thirds of American Jews view "many" or "most" Israelis in positive terms as "peace-loving," "democratic" and "heroic." But more than 40 percent see many Israelis as "chauvinist" and "militarist."

When offered sharply critical characterizations of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, more respondents disagreed than agreed. However, substantial numbers were unsure. 60 percent of the sample rejected the assertion that "Israel persecutes a minority population," with 29 percent not sure. Similarly, 65 percent rejected the notion that "Israel occupies lands that belong to another people," with 22 percent not sure. However only 43 percent rejected the proposition, "When dealing with Palestinian civilians, Israeli soldiers often engage in unnecessary brutality,” with 37 percent unsure. The patterns point to a rejection of critical views of Israel's treatment of Palestinians, but they hardly amount to consensus, let alone unanimity.

If the results point to a softening of attachment to Israel, they also show an increase in desire to travel there. However, safety concerns remain the single most powerful inhibitor of travel to Israel. The survey asked respondents, "If you were to travel to Israel, how concerned would you be about your safety?" Almost half, or 46 percent, were "very concerned," and an additional 42 percent were "somewhat concerned." Just 10 percent said they were "not concerned," and 2 percent were not sure.

In part, safety concerns are themselves a function of prior trips to Israel. Most of those who had never been to Israel said they were "very concerned," compared with one-fourth of those who had been there for a short period, and just 7 percent of those who had been to Israel for stays of three months or longer. Safety concerns were far lower among those with greater attachment to Israel, more knowledge of Israel and the highest involvement in Jewish life.

Thus, fears for one's safety joins a substantial measure of discomfort with Israel as major challenges to advocates of Israel engagement. Yet another, equally daunting, challenge is the diminished interest in Israel among younger American Jews.