Posted on 12/26/2001 9:21:53 AM PST by Alouette
Levels of support among Americans for moderate Arab states and Washington's Arab allies have dropped to an all-time low, according to new survey by Zogby International. Arab American groups have called the results "shocking," saying that the figures show a dramatic shift in Americans' attitude toward the Arab world.
Only 10 percent of Americans view the Palestinian Authority favorably, compared to a huge 72 percent that are totally unsympathetic toward the PA, according to a recent comprehensive poll in the U.S. on Washington's attitude toward the Middle East and the Israeli-Arab conflict.
The lowest ever level of support was recorded for Egpyt and Saudi Arabia. Only 24 percent of those asked saw Saudi Arabia in a positive light, while 58 percent held negative views about the kingdom.
Israel, in complete contrast, prompted the opposite response, with 59 percent of Americans expressing positive opinions on Israel, compared to 28 percent who held negative views.
A closer look at the Zogby poll on the Middle East shows that there has been little change in U.S. attitude toward Israel since the start of the Oslo peace process: 61 percent support in 1993 compared to 59 percent today. Following the September 11 attacks, the October poll recorded a 68 percent support rate for Israel, which has since declined, returning to its 60 percent average. The percentage of those who view Israel negatively, however, has risen since October from 14 percent to the current 28 percent.
American public opinion toward the Arab world has undergone a complete turnabout: In 1993, some 64 percent of respondents expressed a favorable opinion of Egypt, compared to just 38 percent today. The months of October and November saw the sharpest drop. Saudia Arabia has never won many hearts and minds in the U.S., but support has plummeted from 56 percent at the start of 2001 to just 24 percent currently.
The respondents were given a list of countries and asked which they considered to be good or bad allies of the U.S. Some 52 percent responded that Israel was a very good or generally good ally of Washington, with just 28 percent giving the same answer for Egypt and 22 percent for Saudia Arabia.
In October, respondents explained their negative attitude to the Arab states because of their "relations with terrorists," that "one can't know what their position is," and because "they can't be trusted."
There has not however been a significant change in the American public's attitude toward the Israeli-Arab conflict since the September attacks, with 61 percent of respondents saying that the Israelis and Palestinians were equally to blame. There was however a slight fall in the percentage of those who see Israel as solely responsible for the conflict, dropping from 6 percent three years ago to just 4 percent currently. The number of respondents who believe the Palestinians are to blame rose more sharply from 9 percent in 1998, to 24 percent today.
The Arab lobby in Washington is blaming the "anti-Arab propaganda campaign" that has been waged since the September 11 attacks for the shift in attitude.
James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute and brother of the editor of the survey, John Zogby, said that "what the results show is that a tremendous task confronts those who value the relationship and the pursuit of Middle East peace ... The downward slide can be arrested and reversed, but it will require a concerted effort."
Zogby blamed a "steady diet of anti-Arab information" for the swing in public opinion, saying that "those who are seeking to disrupt and discredit the relationship are working overtime."
"Work must be done and it should begin before more damage occurs," he stressed.
No Mr Zogby...I think a bunch of maniac Arabs flying airliners full of men women and children into occupied bldgs full of innocent civilian men, women and children...while other arab maniacs all over the world danced in the street at the news of their demise is the reason for this swing in public opinion.
Can't seem to make up your mind?
61% of respondents have succumbed to Muslim/Arabprop and combined it with the pathetic combination of PC and ignorance.
If anything, this story demonstrates that the "average American" is profoundly ignorant, but never hesitant to voice his opinion.
Well, that's one way to look at it.
Of course I believe that using the invidiousness tool among the rest of the world's ignorant works like a charm.
That's why Communism survived almost a hundred years.
Ignorance and poverty does rule most of the world, so yes, they do have a firmer grasp of the "current world order".
I mean, at FR, there are many anti-Israel disruptors and Israel can do no wrong posters. The latter reveal its allegiances, affinities, or tastes. The former, especially lefty disruptors, reveal none because they would have to confront that their pseudo-intellectual obsessions are founded in either nihilism or reactionary anti-Americanism--they are faithless in any form. Israel isn't perfect, who is? But I agree with you ~98% that most anti-Israel statements are Arabprop and reactionary lefty adversarialism.
You are being way too kind.
I believe they were complicit.
When I note "Pan Arab Islamic" by the way, I mean Muslims who have bought into the Arab Nationalism ideology which inevitably is a blame the west and "zionism" belief. Muslims who have divested themselves of this insidious ideology (a minority comparatively) are for the most part not inclined to engage in this type of anti-western and "zionist" rhetoric. This is characteristic of the Turks for example, who, under the leadership of Ataturk, knew that Arab Nationalism combined with Islam was a regressive force.
There may well be large numbers of Americans with an unfavorable opinion of Arabs, but there are large numbers of Arabs and other Muslims who have taken unfavorable (and that's a charitible categorization) actions that are anti-American.
There's is a world of difference, and thousands of dead Americans, between these two.
Click here: Islamic_Violence
No, we non-Jews who feel passionately about Israel's right to exist simply acknowledge reality, and we make sure that the fact that they act like beasts does not go unnoticed.
Btttt. Well said.
I can't help you over the hurdle, but everyone else seemed to understand. I'll say it plainly for you:
THE ISLAMIC LEADERS DO NOT CONDEMN TERRORISM DONE IN THE NAME OF ALLAH AND THEREBY THEY CONDONE IT. WE ARE IN TROUBLE UNTIL THIS IS STOPPED.
BTW, don't bother me again, I don't like using caps.
How about the facts?
This makes one wonder what will happen if the time ever comes to choose sides for the sake of survival.
Will these people be remembered for their contribution to the problem?
Methinks that thou has just hit one out of the park with this post. Home RUN!
(Some people just need things spelled out for them, I guess. And you seem to be a good speller!)
I am happy to hear at least the suggestion that doing so may not make me an Israeli firster.
But the sadness kicks in when I realize how much of the Muslim/Arabprop is taken at face value, and what that says for our fellow Americans.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.