The other day I mentioned the Arab American Institute‘s poll on public opinion in the Arab world. Here’s the poll, released yesterday. Based on polls in six countries, UAE, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco. Some results:
Despite initial optimism, most Arabs believe that the expectations President Obama
created in his 2009 Cairo speech have not been met.
The numbers: Agree/Disagree? He has “met expectations” of Cairo speech?
Disagree: Morocco 88% Egypt 90% Lebanon 99% Jordan 94% Saudi 77% UAE 41%
Substantial majorities of Arabs in almost every country view both the U.S. and Iran as not “contributing to peace and stability in the Arab World.” The U.S.’ contribution to the region is viewed less positively than Iran in every country except Saudi Arabia…
Overall, Arabs view the two greatest threats to the region’s peace and stability to be “the continuing occupation of Palestinian lands” and “U.S. interference in the Arab world.” Only in Saudi Arabia does the concern with “Iran’s interference in Arab affairs” rank as a top concern….
“Resolving the Palestinian issue” is, by far, seen as the most important issue for the U.S. to
What’s the most important issue for Obama to address in order to improve relations in the Arab world?
Resolve the Palestinian issue: Morocco 58% Egypt 73% Lebanon 33% Jordan 60% Saudi 14% UAE 27%
What’s a higher concern in any of these countries: Ending the Iraq war, for Lebanon, 34 percent. Stopping Iranian nukes for Saudi, 51 percent. And engaging the Muslim world, for UAE, 27%
