From Pechter Polls, a Princeton, New Jersey, firm that specializes in polling in the Middle East, comes an interesting survey of Israeli public opinion. Key results: 53% are satisfied with the performance of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and 40% dissatisfied. By a 39% to 8% margin they think Israelis used too little rather than too much force in boarding the flotilla; 45% said about the right amount of force. In other words, only a negligible number believe Israel used too much force. Should Israel adjust its tactics to elicit a more favorable international reaction? 35% say yes, 61% say no. Should Israel open up Gaza to international humanitarian shipments? 14% say yes, 73% say no.
In other words, while Israelis are not unanimously favorable to Netanyahu, very large majorities of them support his actions and very few believe Israel should open up Gaza to international shipments.
The real shocker for Americans is the response to the question, “Do you like or dislike American President Barack Obama?” Only 19% say they like Obama, while 71% say they dislike him, including 46% who strongly dislike him. Obviously Obama’s widely publicized disagreements with the Israeli government have not succeeded in their possible purporse of undermining the Netanyahu government; quite the contrary. And those Democrats who say that now, with Obama as president, America is once again loved in the world might want to take note. Not in Israel, it appears.
