POLL: Israelis 'Overwhelmingly' Favor Obama, Mixed On Netanyahu

[babylonsister]

POLL: Israelis 'Overwhelmingly' Favor Obama, Mixed On Netanyahu

First Posted: 03-19-10 08:56 AM | Updated: 03-19-10 09:55 PM


(AP) JERUSALEM - A poll released Friday shows that Israelis overwhelmingly have a favorable impression of President Barack Obama, despite a grave diplomatic feud with the U.S. over east Jerusalem construction.

Between a total of three polls released Friday, Israelis sent mixed signals about their own leader. Thirty-six percent of those questioned for one poll thought Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was best suited to lead Israel, versus 26 percent for his closest challenger, opposition leader Tzipi Livni. But another poll showed Livni's Kadima Party would overtake Netanyahu's Likud by a wider margin if elections were held today.

All three polls showed a majority of Israelis supported continued construction in Jerusalem's disputed eastern sector, the issue at the heart of the U.S.-Israeli row. Support ranged from 48 percent in one poll to 70 percent in another.

Some Israelis have misgivings about Obama, who is cooler to Israel than his immediate predecessors and has made a big effort to reach out to the Muslim world.

But a Dialog survey of 499 people on Wednesday and Thursday showed that seven out of 10 Israelis share a favorable view. The poll had a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/19/israelis-view-obama-favor_n_505579.html

[MadBadger]

1. That's surprising.

[Happyhippychick]

2. I have many friends in Israel, they adore Obama and they support Tzipi Livni

(or whatever her name is!).

I think if more Americans didn't confuse Israelis with Israeli government, much the way many Americans shouldn't be confused with their government, they would be very surprised and happy. Just as Israel has to listen to the "America is a center right" country crapola and they may hate us because they are really more liberal, we have to remember that we are hearing much the same thing about them.

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Maybe you should ask them

...why they allowed NuttyYahoo to take power when Livni got more votes in their last election. Yeah, I know NuttyYahoo formed a coalition with those even crazier than he is (the "other" Lieberman, et al) But why didn't everyone to the left of NuttyYahoo form a coalition with Livni as the definite "lesser of two evils".

And "lesser of two evils" pretty much describes every Israeli regime since Rabin was murdered, much like that description fits every election in the US since 1980.

[Happyhippychick]

8. And they would ask why we allowed Bush to take power when Gore got more votes!

:)

It's a little frightening how similar our stories are, isn't it?

[Sebastian Doyle]

12. I'll bet you won't find many Israelis who will admit voting for that bastard by the end of his term

just like I can't find anybody now who will admit voting for the Chimp.

[roguevalley]

14. Benjamin's brother, Yonni, was the only Israeli soldier killed when the

Israelis raided Uganda at Entebbe Airport to rescue the Air France crew and the Jews that were selected out during the hijacking there.

[Jennicut]

4. It is the right wing in Israel that is destructive.

The centrists and liberals are not crazy like Bibi.

[safeinOhio]

10. 90% of the settlers are nuts.

What I've heard from those that have been there.

[Sebastian Doyle]

13. Only 90%?

Then what the Hell do the other 10% think they're accomplishing?

[safeinOhio]

16. They are married to nut cases and along for the ride.

[Enthusiast]

17. They are the equivalent of

our Republican Party (crazy zealots). I don't know where Americans get the impression that Israelis are of one mind on settlements and other issues.

[Cha]

5. Good to know..the gop

can stfu.

[Ozymanithrax]

6. Neighbors that swore to buldoze them into the sea...More wars than they can shake a stick at...

and Bibi Netanyahu is still the worst thing ever to happen to the country of Israel since 1948. And hs popularity is mxed?

[elleng]

7. THOUGHT so; HOPED so!

[KingFlorez]

9. Now that's gotta hurt

[dmr]

11. Wasn't this an issue during their last election?

Not about Obama, but wasn't there an issue between those who desired a peaceful Israel and those like Netanyahu?

[eridani]

15. Dang! Does that mean that Obama can stop that settlement crap?

If so, that would be excellent news.

[Rage Inc.]

18. Netan-Yahoo!

Oy! Don't get me started!