Poll: 43% of Egyptians believe Israel behind 9/11 attacks

According to worldpublicopinion.org, of seventeen nations polled, majorities in only nine believed that al Qaeda was behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

On average, 46 percent say that al Qaeda was behind the attacks while 15 percent say the US government, seven percent Israel, and seven percent some other perpetrator. One in four say they do not know.

As for the Middle East:

Publics in the Middle East are especially likely to name a perpetrator other than al Qaeda. In Egypt 43 percent say that Israel was behind the attacks, as do 31 percent in Jordan and 19 percent in the Palestinian Territories. The US government is named by 36 percent of Turks and 27 percent of Palestinians. The numbers who say al Qaeda was behind the attacks range from 11 percent in Jordan to 42 percent in the Palestinian Territories.

And Africa:

The only countries with overwhelming majorities citing al Qaeda are the African countries: Kenya (77%) and Nigeria (71%). In Nigeria, a large majority of Muslims (64%) also say that al Qaeda was behind the attacks (compared to 79% of Nigerian Christians).

Yes, Israel and Egypt have signed a peace treaty. And yes, they have not had any conflicts since the signing. But there is a distinction between peace involving governments, and peace involving individuals.  The Egyptian people have yet to make peace with the people of Israel.

Poll: Former USSR immigrants to Israel less tolerant of Arabs

A poll released last week by the Israeli Democracy Index (IDI) concludes Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union “harbor significantly greater resentment toward Arabs than veteran Israeli Jews.”

The survey of 1,191 Israeli Jewish adults, which had a 2.8 percent margin of error, found that 77% of immigrants from the former Soviet Union support emigration of Arabs from Israel, compared with 47% of the native Jewish population.

In a related matter, 64% of former Soviet Union citizens oppose any retreat from settlements, a vast difference from the 48% of the entire Israeli population who feel that way.

Additionally, 74% of former Soviet Union residents believe a strong leader can do more for Israel than discussion and laws, compared to 61% of older Jewish Israelis.

There are an estimated 1,160,000 Russians living in Israel out of almost 7.5 million people. Arab citizens of Israel constitute 1,229,600 people, or 17.2 percent of the total population.

Muslims Positive About Globalization & Trade

According to a recent survey, Muslims believe globalization and international trade benefit their country.

These findings challenge the belief that the Muslim world hates the free world. The vast majority want to be a part of the larger economic community. Unfortunately these desires are often restricted by both their governments and ours.

Israelis see U.S. less favorably

A new PEW report reveals that,

“Israel [is]… the only public among the 25 surveyed where the current U.S. rating is lower than in past surveys.”

This can be attributed to nothing more than the election and actions of President Barack Obama. Below is the data:

There are two other noteworthy findings in the report, apart from the drop in support from Israel. French support jumped from 42 to 75 percent following Obama’s election, and the Turkish really dislike the US (14 percent)–more than any other Muslim country.

Below is the data showing Israeli and Palestinian reactions to Obama’s Cairo speech. Following his speech, Obama lost Israeli support and gained Palestinian support.

HT: Shmuel Rosner

Palestinian Militants Threaten Bruno

The Guardian reports,

A Palestinian militant organisation that was ridiculed in the new Sacha Baron Cohen film has threatened to “respond in the way we find suitable” against the London-born satirist.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of the Fatah movement, has condemned the film, Bruno, in which Cohen plays a gay Austrian fashionista, as “part of a conspiracy” against them. There was no comment from Cohen.

In the film, Cohen attempts to get himself kidnapped and arranges a meeting with Ayman Abu Aita, who, it is claimed, is a leader in the Martyrs Brigade, which is designated as a terrorist group in the US and European Union. While promoting the film, Cohen spoke of the clandestine meetings at shadowy locations and bodyguards required to set up the scene.

The Jerusalem housing discrepancy

Al Bawaba reports:

The United States has demanded that Israel suspend a planned housing project in east Jerusalem following a complaint by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, senior Israeli officials said Sunday. This is the latest in disagreements between the US and Israel over settlements.

The Israeli officials confirmed that Israeli ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, was summoned to the US State Department and told that the housing project developed by American millionaire Irving Moskowitz, a longtime supporter of Israeli settlements, should be canceled.

According to Israeli Army Radio, the US demanded that Israel revoke approval for the project.

Abbas reportedly told the Americans that the construction of Jewish housing in east Jerusalem would shift the demographic balance of east Jerusalem.

Abbas’ argument seems reasonable, though the issue of property rights–whether to sell or purchase– is muddied by the the region’s political situation. At any rate, I find it important to point out that Arabs are permitted to purchase homes in both east and west Jerusalem, the Arab and Jewish sides. That being the case it seems inconsistent to prevent Israel’s Jewish residence from exercising the same rights. It is highly unlikely for Israel to prevent Jewish home purchases in east Jerusalem while permitting Arab home purchases in west Jerusalem, especially with a Likud-led coalition government under Netanyahu.