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.
Ditto. Even though hitting the abuse button would have been appropriate on numerous occasions, I just let their hate ramble on. Dealing from hate hardly advances American interests. We need clear thinking and real information.
It figures you would have sympathy for the statement you quoted. To draw an analogy between the JDL and Bin Laden and his bunch is intellectually dishonest. This organization, the JDL, has for the most part exercised its activism in two principle respects:
(1) The most notoriety was gained in their position with respect to the Soviet intransigence on Jewish immigration. Oh gee, what a terrible anti-Western issue.
(2) Their actions with respect to neo-nazi groups.
The recent allegations with respect to Rubin and his co-accused, if true, are reprehensible and have, even before they've been convicted, engendered immediate condemnation by all aspects of the Jewish community. Something sorely lacking in the Islamic community in terms of Bin Laden and even more, the lack of Islamic condemnation of the Jihads occurring internationally - Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Algeria, south Philippines, etc. The use of this small group to bolster an argument against support for Israel just because of their existence is a gratuitous claim not worthy of acknowledgement except by those who need to find kernels to make mountains against Israel.
Huh!! Wonder how that happened?
You really have a way of twisting things. I said that some Jews in Detroit who felt the need to (figuratively) crawl on their hands and knees to Dearborn were snivelling leftists. I also said that you the Doc Lady have no right to speak in the name of Detroit Jewry. Don't put words in my mouth and don't misrepresent what I said. When you think somebody does that to you, you pitch a hissy fit.
Then 9/11 happened.
My opinion of Muslims did plummet because I bought a copy of the Holy Qur'an. It alone is the greatest piece of "anti Islamic propaganda" ever written. Good Muslims are commanded to "Fight the disbelievers who dwell near to you" (9:121). They also must "cut off all the fingertips" of their foes (8:12). There will always be disbelievers dwelling nearby until the whole world is Muslim (so many fingertips, so little time).
Did Zogby consider people like myself?
Islam is not just a run of the mill "religion" started by a run of the mill caravan thief; it is a doctrine that people would follow when they are intent on ruling the world.
Is your idea of a witty response? If so, you've failed miserably.
Another scatter-brained response. Thanks for nothing.
I think Rubin is an idiot and I think the JDL is a wannabee terrorist organization but too dumb and too timid to pull it off. I have never, at any time, said anything that could be construed as support of the JDL, on this or any other forum.
This is my official condemnation of the JDL! Bookmark this post!
Who are the people who thought that what the JDL was allegedly attempting to do was OK?
The only thing I find shocking is the lack of Arab support thru this crisis. They remain surprisingly unsympathetic on 911 while being loud about our mistreatment.
No, it was not. It was from a handful of self-appointed individuals (secular liberals) who wanted a photo op. It was not from the entire Jewish community.
Imagine that, they kill our people, hijack our airplanes, form terrorist cells in this country, advocate their violent theology from mosques around the world, declare repeatedly that the Jews and the United States are the targets of their anger......................
AND NOW WE DON'T PARTICULARLY WANT THEM AROUND ANYMORE? How uncivil of us 'ugly 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.