Why do 31% Expect U.S.-Israeli Relations To Worsen Over The Next Year?

July 13, 2010 05:44


Does Obama’s treatment of Israel and their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have anything to do with it?

From Rasmussen Reports

Despite President Obama’s meeting last week with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to affirm the importance of the U.S.–Israeli relationship, 31% of U.S. voters believe relations between the two countries will be worse a year from now.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 15% think America’s relationship with Israel will be better in 12 months time. Forty-four percent (44%) expect the relationship to be about the same.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) consider Israel an ally of the United States, down from a recent high of 70% in August of last year. Only five percent (5%) feel Israel is an enemy, while 33% place the Jewish state somewhere in between.

The president has been critical of Israel’s settlement policy and has sought like several previous presidents to slow or stop those settlements in occupied Palestinian territory in hopes of achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. But this has put him at odds with the conservative Netanyahu government.

In June of last year, 35% criticized the president for not being supportive enough of Israel, while 48% said the president’s Middle East policy was about right.

FULL STORY



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