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Support for Arabs plummets in America, opinion poll finds
Ha'aretz ^ | Dec. 26, 2001 | Nitzan Horowitz

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: michaeldobbs
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Comment #81 Removed by Moderator

To: Alouette;*christian;khepera
Finally a poll I can believe. Maybe if Arab (Muslim) countries would get their head out of the sand, and start publicly and loudly denouncing terrorist activities, public opinion would change.

Yea, like that will ever happen. Silence is golden, their silence on the Islamic terrorists shows support for terrorists. In their own words "kill the infidels".

82 posted on 12/26/2001 11:00:43 AM PST by wwjdn
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To: harrowup
JDL

JDL. ADL. Mossad. Amen Corner. Israel firsters. Et al.

You people are driving me crazy. You have no consideration. The annual dues add up if you have us belonging to all those organizations simultaneously. Lets decide on one organization and cut down on expenses.

And what happened to Mark Rich? He was the Zionist organizational villian de jour. You guys are just too fickle.

83 posted on 12/26/2001 11:01:29 AM PST by Sabramerican
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To: Alouette
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.

But, wait! I thought pollsters were unbiased. I thought they just wanted information, not to push an agenda. You mean it ain't so? (sniff) Oh, say that isn't true. Say the pollsters aren't biased. (sniff).

Next you'll be telling me there is no Santa Claus.

Shalom.

84 posted on 12/26/2001 11:02:49 AM PST by ArGee
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To: Catspaw
Or do they mix up the three like they were dealing cards?

What ever it is, it's definitely dealing from the bottom of the deck.

85 posted on 12/26/2001 11:04:16 AM PST by monkeyshine
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To: veronica
LOL veronica. From the looks of your bump list I'd say you rather enjoy these "discussions". :-)
86 posted on 12/26/2001 11:05:17 AM PST by monkeyshine
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To: Alouette
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."

. . . or it could be the fact that some of them launched civillian planes into civillian buildings. DO YOU THINK IT COULD BE THAT?

87 posted on 12/26/2001 11:05:43 AM PST by Big Guy and Rusty 99
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To: Elkiejg
I second your motion! Deport every Muslim who is not already a citizen. I'd rather be safe than politically correct.
88 posted on 12/26/2001 11:05:54 AM PST by Wolfstar
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To: 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.

As a Christian I found (find) their tactics disgusting. I think FR has been inflitrated, particularly the last few weeks, with a number of Pan Arab Islamics including "palestinians" who have made common cause with the aryan bunch. These have come on this site with their baiting tactics and zionist conspiracy tactics to sow divisions among Jews and Christians especially. Raimondo is one of their priests as well lighting his zionist fires wherever and whenever he can.

89 posted on 12/26/2001 11:05:57 AM PST by Lent
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To: Gadsden1st
The presstitutes just hate it when the TRUTH leaks out! Hard to hide a couple of hundred story buildings falling down. The liberals were exposed for the Palistanian Terrorist supporters that they are. Haven't seen much of Yasir Terrorfist in the WH lately??? Too Bad!

Pray for GW and the Truth!

90 posted on 12/26/2001 11:06:42 AM PST by bray
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To: Catspaw
Be careful with your pro Israel sentiments or the Islamists of FreeRepublic will be calling you katzpaw.
91 posted on 12/26/2001 11:07:56 AM PST by dennisw
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To: Lent
These photos make me think the following:

1) Bring back napalm.

2) Use it often.

92 posted on 12/26/2001 11:08:43 AM PST by Big Guy and Rusty 99
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To: Alouette
BTTT.
93 posted on 12/26/2001 11:09:16 AM PST by veronica
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Comment #94 Removed by Moderator

To: Shermy
>>His statements mean, in other words, Americans are dupes and stupid.<<

I'm afraid that I seriously agree with this statement, generally speaking. And all the proof I need is this:

1. They elected Clinton
2. They elected Clinton again.
3. They almost elected Gore.

Keep in mind that numbers two and three happened after there was already ample evidence of just what kind of people these folk are.

I can't quote him precicely, but P.J. Oroarke (sp?) once wrote: Do you have a hard time understanding why the american people elect the officials they do? Well, have you seen the movies and TV they watch? Have you listened to their popular music? He11, have you been to the mall and seen 'em?

Go to the mall and "see them." Your eyes will be opened.

95 posted on 12/26/2001 11:20:05 AM PST by RobRoy
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To: Alouette
Arabs should realize that we have run out of patience with their nonsense. Once they learn not to follow the teachings of a death cult we can start talking to them intelligently.
96 posted on 12/26/2001 11:21:40 AM PST by MaxwellWolf
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To: Alouette
Arab American groups have called the results "shocking," saying that the figures show a dramatic shift in Americans' attitude toward the Arab world.
Zogby blamed a "steady diet of anti-Arab information" for the swing in public opinion...

I was convinced that Muslim Arabs are subhuman after constantly reading BS that pretends to believe the nonsense that rhetoric is more important than deeds, and that Muslim Mass Murder is equally invisible to normal people as it is to Muslims worldwide.
And if history can be characterized as "anti-Arab information", then yes, that is a fact.
However, history is neutral; and simply being able to see that other cultures and countries abandoned barbarism 500 years ago, and that Muslim Arabs did not, simple forces us all to embrace the reasonable conclusion.

It is us or them.
And it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.
And sooner will be a lot easier than later.

97 posted on 12/26/2001 11:21:54 AM PST by Publius6961
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To: seamole
Wonder why this is.

Easy question.
The PC crowd typically is profoundly ignorant.
But they mean well and need to feel good about themselves.
That make them blind to reality pretty much.

98 posted on 12/26/2001 11:24:55 AM PST by Publius6961
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To: Lent
Lent: A lot of them aren't "arabs", they are left-identity Americans or westerners. Can tell by their postmodern lingo and ritual lefty obsessions. It's an interesting alliance between the left-identity, "arabs," and "right wing" anti-semites. Both are absolutely unconcerned with facts or perspective, language is only for the maintenance of their adversarial identities as anti-American/Western reactionaries, which the rise of left-wing anti-semitism works to reinforce.

I think it's a good sign they're here...obviously they think it's worth posting here. Their jew obsessions won't be changed, but maybe they'll open their minds in other ways. Or they could be Saudi-funded "peace group" disruptors. But I think they are legitimate, though working off talking points some of them (the AOL chat rooms are full of such reiterators). I can tell by their encyclopedic knowledge of all the crackpot web sites on the issue! Also look at their history of posts--all about israel or jews, nothing else. Lars, a member since today, is a perfect example.

99 posted on 12/26/2001 11:25:48 AM PST by Shermy
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To: Alouette
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.

Gimmeafrigginbreak

Everytime I turn on the tube, some brainless drama, some stupid sitcom, or one the endless inane "News" magazine shows is doing a segment about "Islam is Pease", or how it's just a few extremists, not Islam as a whole that's causing all the death and destruction.

The only propaganda I'm hearing seems to be in their favor. Doesn't seem to be working to well, does it?

100 posted on 12/26/2001 11:26:03 AM PST by consultant
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