Poll: U.S. Image in Israel Suffers After Obama Cairo Speech

(IsraelNN.com)

A poll released last week shows that President Barack Obama's administration has improved the perception of the United States in countries all over the world -- except in Israel.

Respondents to a major poll taken by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center showed that America's image has improved, sometimes dramatically, in 25 countries around the world. In Western Europe, for example, where the countries polled were England, France, Germany and Spain, an average of 85.5 percent of respondents said that Obama would "do the right thing in world affairs," compared to an average of only 15 percent in the same countries that said this about former President George W. Bush in 2008.

Similar improvements to America's image were evident in the poll numbers in South America, Asia, and Africa. In China, Obama's 2009 rating approval was at 62 percent -- more than twice Bush's 2008 score. In Brazil the U.S. President had 76 percent approval, compared to 17 percent for his predecessor. In Kenya his approval percentage was 94 -- up from Bush's 72 in 2007.

--CLIP--
In Jordan, 30 percent of the populace said they believed Obama was on their side, while only 8 said the same thing about Bush in 2008. Thirty one percent in Jordan believe in Obama's foreign policy, up from 7 percent who believed in Bush's.

For the first time since the question was asked in the polls, Jordanians are more confident in an American president than in Osama Bin Laden – whom
In Israel, however, the U.S. is seen as less trustworthy – and the poll pinpointed Obama's Cairo speech in June as the turning point.
only 28 percent are confident is fighting for their interests. Obama is also more popular than Bin Laden in a number of other Muslim nations, including Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Nigeria and Indonesia. In Egypt, 42 percent believe in Obama's foreign policy efforts – far more than the 11 percent who said they believed in Bush's last year.

Downward turn in Israel

In Israel, however, the U.S. is seen as less trustworthy – and the poll pinpointed Obama's Cairo speech in June as the turning point. Before the poll, 76 percent of Israelis viewed the U.S. favorably, while after it, only 63 percent held that view. In addition, 60 percent of Israelis said they were confident in Obama's ability to lead before the speech – but afterwards, only 49 percent held that view. Still, 56 percent of Israelis agreed with the statement "Obama will do the right thing in world affairs" -- only 1 percent less than said the same thing about Bush last year.

MORE... http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132575

A right-wing Israel doesn't approve of us trying to build bridges with the region's Arabs!

It's refreshing to have a POTUS who demonstrates some real principles instead of simply trying to appease the crazies.

Probably more duel citizens in Israel than nativeborn at this point.

The OP is nothing but information.
Some people at DU do not want YOU to have information.

K&R

means!!

In time they'll find that Obama's a good ally. Being weaned from the exaggerated coddling of the GWB years just takes some time. Not that the coddling ultimately helped Israel -- it served to encourage the extreme nationalists at the expense of most Israelis' better interests.

Before the poll, 76 percent of Israelis viewed the U.S. favorably, while after it, only 63 percent held that view. In addition, 60 percent of Israelis said they were confident in Obama's ability to lead before the speech – but afterwards, only 49 percent held that view. Still, 56 percent of Israelis agreed with the statement "Obama will do the right thing in world affairs" -- only 1 percent less than said the same thing about Bush last year.