Some 60 percent of Israelis have a favorable view of President Obama – up 6 points from last year. In addition, Israeli more Israelis think American support for their security interests has increased and Israeli Jews also cite Obama as the most admired world leader. These are just a few of the figures released by the Brookings Institute, based on a poll conducted by Shibley Telhami, Brookings Non-Resident Senior Fellow and Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland.
The poll, conducted in late November, also found that there has been an increase in Israeli optimism regarding U.S.-Israeli relations in Obama’s second term. Additional findings shed light on Israeli-Palestinian relations and include:
• 45 percent of respondents felt that neither Israel or Hamas emerged victorious from the recent conflict.
• 38 percent of respondents think Israel isn’t any better or worse off than before the escalation in Gaza.
• 40 percent of respondents believe the fighting in Gaza will not end;
• 29 percent believe fighting will end when there is a political final status with the Palestinians.