IMRA - Pew Poll: our neighbors do not like our enemies

Dr. Aaron Lerner..
IMRA Weekly Commentary..
12 July '12..




The Pew Global Attitudes Project 2012 Spring Survey just released provides important insight as to what the people in our region really think about Israel’s leading enemies.

Here are the percentages who replied that they held an unfavorable versus favorable opinion of Iran:
Turkey 55%:26%
Egypt 76%:22%
Jordan 79%:18%
Lebanon 61%:39%

Here are the percentages who replied that they held an unfavorable versus favorable opinion of Hamas
Turkey 79%:10%
Egypt 56%:39%
Jordan 53%:44%
Lebanon 67%:30%

Here are the percentages who replied that they held an unfavorable versus favorable opinion of
Hezbollah
Turkey 85%:6%
Egypt 75%:20%
Jordan 70%:29%
Lebanon 60%:40%

Here are the percentages who replied that they held an unfavorable versus favorable opinion of al Qaeda
Turkey 85%:6%
Egypt 73%:19%
Jordan 77%:14%
Lebanon 98%:2%

Here are the percentages who replied that they held an unfavorable versus favorable opinion of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Turkey 48%:35%
Egypt 73%:23%
Jordan 83%:13%
Lebanon 55%:42%

No, I am not saying it is time to break out the champagne.

Just that we have to understand that we live in a world where there is a lot more going on in it that just the Arab-Israeli conflict.

And it is doubly crucial that we appreciate that there are many things that can motivate the relations of other actors in the region with Israel’s leading enemies that have nothing to do with the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Recently some Israelis have suggested that the Jewish State essentially bribe the world to address the Iranian nuclear threat by agreeing to retreat to indefensible borders, divide Jerusalem and cut a deal involving the return of the “refugees”.

Now it’s true that many of those advocating the move have been promoting this move for years and the Iran story may be no more than their latest justification. Once they said it would bring peace, then they argued it would save Israel from demographic destruction, now its Iran and no doubt they will come up with another reason if somehow the Iran problem is resolved.

But there are others who were not always retreat promoters but consider it necessary to make a big sacrifice to the “withdrawal Moloch” if we want the world on our side regarding Iran.

And these policy advocates – and more importantly – the policy makers – have to understand that when it comes to the decisions that the world will make about Iran, what Israel does or does not do vis-à-vis the Arab Israeli conflict will not have a crucial impact on the stands of the decision makers.

Again. Suicidal concessions by Israel won’t determine how the world deals with Iran.

The interests of the world will determine how the world deals with Iran.

Link: http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=57453

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