Support for Arabs plummets in America, opinion poll finds

Ha'aretz ^ | Dec. 26, 2001 | Nitzan Horowitz

[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.

[cookcounty]

"Zogby blamed a "steady diet of anti-Arab information" for the swing in public opinion, "

I don't think so. For example, one small item in the press relating to the "shoe-bomber": Upon his arrest, he identified himself as "Abdul Rahim," yet, most news outlets, out of fear of muslim-miffing, censored this bit of info. Only after he was tied to Massaoui's London mosque, was it let out that he had muslim ties.

Most news organizations are "working overtime" to cast Arabs and Muslims in as positive a light as possible.

[Chi-townChief]

I posted these comments before from one of the "moderate" Arab leaders in my area but they bear repeating:

"The enemy of the Holy Land Foundation, the enemy of the Muslim people, is Israel and its supporters in the United States," said Rafeeq Jaber, president of the Palos Hills-based Islamic Association for Palestine, which organized the rally. "They're not going to let anyone help the Palestinian people survive and struggle for their freedom."

The United States should give these guys the same kind of support as we gave Hitler and the Nazis in the '40s.

[monkeyshine]

Yep. All these Arab leaders seem to do is blame others. No sense of responsibility, and the USG and US Media does everything they can to cover for them.

[Catspaw]

Contrary to the wishful thinking of certain folks on Free Republic.

With a little more time you and the other JDL shills will manage to turn it around.

Harrowup, you forgot to call Alouette a liberal, or is that next on the talking points?

[Lent]

Thats funny that you mention that. Go into any academic setting and you will find professors talk and talk about the dark ages of europe and how Christianity was exclusive. They will point out how it gave special privelages to the cleric class, how it denied education to the average person, how it forcefully converted people, how it discouraged science in order to preserve its own power, and how it excluded undesirables like women in the church.

As well, those same egg-heads will portray medieval Islam as "tolerant" treating their dhimmi with respect. The fact that they're parroting revisionist Islamic history and whitewashing the perpetual Jihads and the destruction of Eastern Christianity tells you a lot about the state of our institutes of lower learning.

[Lent]

I don't think so. For example, one small item in the press relating to the "shoe-bomber": Upon his arrest, he identified himself as "Abdul Rahim," yet, most news outlets, out of fear of muslim-miffing, censored this bit of info. Only after he was tied to Massaoui's London mosque, was it let out that he had muslim ties.

Most news organizations are "working overtime" to cast Arabs and Muslims in as positive a light as possible.

Exactly right. The PC press have been putting their fingers in their great big PC damn but it's leaking all over the place.

[Torie]

I am one of the switcheroos reflected in this poll. My views of Egypt has changed only marginally downward, but that of the Palestinians and Arafat have tanked. Between rejection of the Barak peace offer, the subsequent violence, and the reaction to the WTC disaster, it was all too much. Saudi Arabia went into the dog house when I learned about its financing here there and everywhere of militant Muslim Imman's and schools, and sluggishness in assisting in cutting off the money to the bad guys.

[KC_Conspirator]

They are institutions of lower learning. BTW, I love your post of "I wonder why?".

[Hugin]

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."

'Bout sums it up.

[monkeyshine]

Be careful! Soon you will be called a member of the Amen corner.

[NixNatAVanG InDaBurgh]

Isn't it the most amazing thing? Just a scant few months ago, they couldn't get in enough ADL bashing, even though they KNEW that most of us couldn't agree with most of anything the ADL stood for, except for the fact that we are Jewish. Suddenly, the Arab *street* decides that it's just okay to murder Americans at will for THEIR god, and the JDL is somehow to blame...who never murdered ANYONE.
Suddenly our best buddy in the Near East, good ole Saudi Arabia, shows its true colors and lo and behold!!! They are our absolute WORST enemy, have been for decades, while being allowed to procure state of the art technology from all over the world, including, but by no means limited to, us, US. And who do they plan to destroy with all this wonderful technology? Why US, of course.
If I was a CIA operative, I would find my way into bill clinton's house because I just know Bin Laggin' is there to watch the Super Bowl on the big screen. The secret service probably thinks he's a genie. bill sure can pick'em.
Do I hate Arabs? Not hardly. But I don't hardly like most of them much anymore either. It's the MUSLIM Arabs who have my animosity by their own choice. They wanted it, they asked for it, they got it. I'm a giving kind of person.
So, you jerks who lost every argument you ever started about anything Arab or Jewish, using whatever sticky little scam you could from the Liberty to the Intifada starting all because Sharon went to the Temple Mount, to whether or not the *palestinians* were a legitimate people, to whether or not Israel could *occupy* its OWN country, are just losers. Maximum losers. This JDL thing will go just about that far. And for all that, here is some very valuable advice. Stick it in your ear, YOU PROVERBIAL LOSERS.

[Lent]

Thanks. A microcosm of the Arab Islamic sentiments concerning 9/11.

[veronica]

With a little more time you and the other JDL shills will manage to turn it around.

Having a little whine with your crow??

[Catspaw]

Be careful! Soon you will be called a member of the Amen corner

I think we're getting the sequence: first it's a member of the Amen Corner, then JDL, THEN liberal.

Or does liberal come first, THEN Amen Corner, then JDL?

Or is it JDL, THEN liberal, then Amen Corner?

Or do they mix up the three like they were dealing cards?

[cookcounty]

"Yes, but I'm not questioning about the illiterate goat herder in Bumsqaq, Egypt, I'm wondering about the muslim leadership which have remained almost entirely silent. Silence does speak volumes sometimes."

About 2 weeks after 9-11, There was a show with a bunch of young Arabs (I think it was Niteline). They spoke their condemnation of US foreign policy with uninterrupted contempt. One self-righteous young Syrian student scolded, "You know, we Arabs believe that when you remain silent, it means you give approval."

I wish I had it on tape. Of course, this means that the Arabs approve of beheading non-muslims in the Philippines, burning churches in Indonesia, imprisoning of christian converts in numerous nations, slavery in Mauritania, the butchering of 20,000 people in city of Homs, in the young lady's home country of Syria, not to mention the ongoing Arab racism practiced against the Kurds, the Berbers, the Black Sudanese, as well as the Afghans.

I called my family so they could witness this stern but thoroughly ridiculous young woman pontificate. Oh, how I wish I had it on tape!

[desertcry]

The arab moslems continues to live in a dreamland, they murdered more than 3000 inocent unsuspecting Americans(and even some Arabs), and the arab countries shouts, death to America, and are shocked that arabs are not popular in the USA. Now it's easy to understand, why they are willing to strap C4s around their waist, and crash 767s into buildings to blow up Christians, and Jews. Still, it's a big mystery to zogby why Americans don't like arabs, what kind of a pollster is this guy? He is an arab, I quess.

[desertcry]

The arab moslems continues to live in a dreamland, they murdered more than 3000 inocent unsuspecting Americans(and even some Arabs), and the arab countries shouts, death to America, and are shocked that arabs are not popular in the USA. Now it's easy to understand, why they are willing to strap C4s around their waist, and crash 767s into buildings to blow up Christians, and Jews. Still, it's a big mystery to zogby why Americans don't like arabs, what kind of a pollster is this guy? He is an arab, I quess.