AiBotA recent public opinion poll conducted by the American University’s Program on Governance in the Middle East and North Africa has yielded some intriguing findings regarding Israeli attitudes towards several key regional matters. The poll, which surveyed over 1,000 Israeli adults in December 2022, found that a significant proportion of the population now views the United States as a less vital ally to Israel, while also showing a notable change in views on Iran.
One of the most striking results from the poll was the decline in trust in the US as a vital alliance for Israel. When asked which countries Israel had the most favorable views of, the top responses were the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany in that order, with 83 percent, 72 percent, and 66 percent respectively expressing positive views towards these countries. This stands in contrast to only 46 percent of those surveyed having a positive view of the European Union, suggesting the persistence of Israeli reservations about the EU’s policies towards the Israel-Palestine conflict.
However, when respondents were asked to name the country that is most vital to Israel’s security, 61 percent chose Iran, followed by 16 percent naming the United States. This represents a reversal of the historical prioritization of the US as the cornerstone of Israeli security policy, as respondents increasingly view Iran as a pressing threat. These changing priorities likely reflect the complex interplay of regional dynamics, including Iran’s expanding influence in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, where it has established military footholds.
Another significant finding from the poll concerned public attitudes towards Israel’s relationship with neighboring countries. While a vast majority (83 percent) of respondents expressed opposition to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, and even more (90 percent) rejected the idea of an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank, this does not necessarily translate to a rejection of dialogue with Palestinian leaders. Notably, 51 percent of respondents expressed a willingness to discuss and negotiate with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
These findings are significant because they complicate some long-held assumptions about Israeli public opinion. Some might view the shift in Israeli views towards the US as a product of disillusionment with Western foreign policy, driven in part by what have been percieved as inconsistent stances from Washington on issues like the Iran nuclear deal and Israeli settlements. Conversely, the growing importance of Iran to Israeli security considerations underscores the evolving nature of the Middle East’s complex and often contentious geopolitics.
It is essential in analyzing these poll results to engage with Israeli perspectives that can shed light on these shifts in public opinion, as was hinted at by someone referring to them in your prompt.