August 28, 2006 - U.S. Voters Feel Better About Israel, Quinnipiac University National Thermometer Shows; Feelings For Iran, Palestinians, Syria Are Cooler Still - News from the Middle East - SPME Scholars for Peace in the Middle East

Polling Results




Americans’ view of Israel has become even more positive since the recent war between the Jewish state and Hezbollah forces, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. Americans see the Palestinians and Iran, both of whom are strong Hezbollah allies, as slightly less friendly to the United States than they were in a June 12 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. In addition, Syria, another Hezbollah benefactor, is viewed by the U.S. public more negatively than any country other than North Korea and Iran.
The poll of 1,080 American voters gives respondents the names of 17 countries or institutions and asks them to rate each on a scale of 0 -100 according to “how friendly or unfriendly do you think” each nation or group is to the United States.
The mean scores for each nation or institution:
1) England – 78.3
2) Canada – 71.7
3) Israel – 65.9
4) India – 53.4
5) Mexico – 51.4
6) United Nations – 49.2
7) Russia – 45.5
8) France – 43.2
9) China – 39
10) Saudi Arabia – 38.2
11) Venezuela – 35.9
12) Iraq – 27.7
13) Cuba – 24
14) Palestinian Government – 22.8
15) Syria – 21.7
16) North Korea – 15
17) Iran – 13.9
“The changes since our last poll show that the recent fighting in the Middle East has strengthened Americans’ view that Israel is a friend to the U.S. and that Iran, Syria and the Palestinians are not,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“The biggest change toward Israel has been among political independents.”
When Quinnipiac last asked Americans to rate those nations in June, Israel received a score of 62.9. The increase to 65.9 represented the largest jump of any nation surveyed compared to the previous survey. Israel’s support in the United States is stronger among Republicans (70.9) and independents (68.1) than among Democrats (60) and among men (71.9) than women ( 60.5).
In other findings:
The Palestinian government dropped from 25 to 22.8; Iran fell from 16.9 to 13.9; Syria, which was not listed previously, scored the third worst overall at 21.7.
In each case, Democrats and women view those countries marginally more favorably than Republicans, independents or men.
Saudi Arabia, which condemned the original Hezbollah attack, dropped slightly from 39.5 in June to 38.2.
“Although the changes in each case are modest, together it is reasonable to assume that they show the recent fighting increased Americans’ sympathies toward Israel and increased the animosity in the United States toward Israel’s enemies,” said Brown.
Recent developments in Cuba have not changed Americans’ feelings toward the island, which measured 24.4 in June.
From August 17 – 23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,080 registered voters nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and nationwide as a public service and for research.
For additional data — www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201
3. I’d like to get your feelings about some countries and governing organizations who have been in the news and what sort of a relationship you feel they have with the United States. I’ll read the name of a country or governing organization and I’d like you to rate how much of a friend or foe they are to the U.S. using the feeling thermometer. You can choose any number between 0 and 100. The higher the number, the warmer or more friendly you feel they are to the U.S. The lower the number, the colder or less friendly they are. If we come to a country or governing organization who you haven’t heard enough about to form an opinion, you don’t need to rate them. Just tell me and we’ll move on to the next one… TREND: How friendly or unfriendly do you think — is to the U.S.? (na = not asked)

Read the entire article online: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x11367.xml?ReleaseID=951

August 28, 2006 – U.S. Voters Feel Better About Israel, Quinnipiac University National Thermometer Shows; Feelings For Iran, Palestinians, Syria Are Cooler Still

August 28, 2006 – U.S. Voters Feel Better About Israel, Quinnipiac University National Thermometer Shows; Feelings For Iran, Palestinians, Syria Are Cooler Still

SPME