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Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah (AP)
Last update - 14:37 16/04/2008
Survey: Nasrallah is the most admired leader in the Arab world
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Middle East, Israel 

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Nassan Nasrallah is the most admired leader in the Arab world, according to a poll released recently by the Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland.

Nasrallah seems to be gaining in popularity, with some 26 percent of respondents voicing support for him. Syrian President Bashar Assad also won an increase in popularity, according to the poll.

The survey also found that the majority of Arab public - in contrast to their governments - does not view Iran as a major threat.
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Respondents said they believe Iran should be free to pursue its nuclear program and are opposed to international pressure to halt development. Some 44 percent of respondents said the outcome of a nuclear Iran would be beneficial for the region.

The poll found an increased interest within the Arab world regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, with some 86 percent of respondents calling it one of the top three most important issues facing the refion.

A majority of respondents support a two-state solution based on 1967 borders but an increasing number voiced pessimism about its prospects.

Some 50 percent of respondents believe that the failure of a two-state solution would lead to continued conflict, 9 percent believe it would eventually lead to a one-state solution and 7 percent think the Palestinian will eventually surrender to Israel.

The survery also found that 18 percent of Arab respondents sympathize with Hamas over Fatah, while 38 percent voiced equal sympathy for the rival factions. Some 15 percent of respondents blame Hamas for the situation in Gaza, while 23 percent believe Fatah is to blame.

Some 83 percent of respondents, meanwhile, voiced an unfavorable view of the United States, while 70 percent express no confidence in the American government. Most Arabs, however, ranked the U.S. as among the leaders of freedom and democracy.

The poll found that 32 percent of Arabs believe that America's Middle East policy will remain the same regardless of who wins the coming elections. Some 18 percent of respondents think Barack Obama has the best chance of bringing peace to the region, while 13 percent favor Hillary Clinton. Another 4 percent think McCain is the best candidate to advance Middle East peace.

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      1.   THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN 11:19  |  VIPER 16/04/08
      2.   Polls Are a Joke 11:30  |  dyinglikeflies 16/04/08
      3.   Least admired race 11:49  |  Aussie Michael 16/04/08
      4.   Arab street and Arab leaders = Not the same 12:09  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/04/08
      5.   Pudgy Rambo with a beard 12:23  |  Natallie Durson 16/04/08
      6.   Nasrallah more popular than bush or olmert 13:00  |  I ain`t lying 16/04/08
      7.   Least admired "race" but the most bombed one 13:11  |  Dana Wanderer 16/04/08
      8.   Idiot "Aussie Michael" 13:19  |  Egyptian 16/04/08
      9.   Well deserved 13:24  |  Lobo08 16/04/08
      10.   #1 Viper 13:25  |  Steve 16/04/08
      11.   Admiration and races #2 13:27  |  grazia 16/04/08
      12.   Maybe but terrible dress sense 13:39  |  SJ 16/04/08
      13.   #1 Viper 13:49  |  Rab Burns 16/04/08
      14.   I think you forgot something NAT 14:06  |  SOI 16/04/08
      15.   Pudgy Natallie Durson 14:07  |  Michael 16/04/08
      16.   Nasrallah is admired because he stood up to the Zionazis! 14:10  |  lakshmi 16/04/08
      17.   Isn`t Bin Ladin "most admired" by Arabs? 14:10  |  Rick & TC 16/04/08
      18.   Tamerlan was right 14:12  |  CM 16/04/08
      19.   2 state solution with unlimited right of return is not a solution 14:18  |  Sam 16/04/08
      20.   SOI .- They are "proud" of their successfull leader ;) 14:23  |  Johnny 16/04/08
      21.   When we see nasrallah and lebanese militans on TV 14:26  |  Johnny 16/04/08
      22.   #8, LOL AT STEVE 14:27  |  VIPER 16/04/08
      23.   Wow, CM 14:31  |  FZ, Edinburgh 16/04/08
      24.   #15, SAM, idiotic is an understatement 14:32  |  VIPER 16/04/08
      25.   Whomever can hurt the Jews the most, WINS! 14:42  |  Avi 16/04/08
      26.   More-on populartity in the Arab world 14:56  |  Avi 16/04/08
      27.   Nasrallah is a Good Leader 14:56  |  MiddleStanian 16/04/08
      28.   If Israel keeps avoiding peace, Nasrallah will deploy nuclear 14:57  |  Aounist 16/04/08
      29.   To Aounst: if Israel keeps avoiding destroying Hizbolla 15:09  |  Avi 16/04/08
      30.   Pollster nightmare. Disorientation and how..! 15:09  |  Stephen. 16/04/08
      31.   Whomever hates/kills the most Jews wins! 15:11  |  Avi 16/04/08
      32.   viper, @1 you are talking not as aussi but as arab/muslim 15:15  |  v 16/04/08
      33.   #18 VIPER 15:15  |  Steve 16/04/08
      34.   Nasrallah is the most admired leader in Israel as well 15:30  |  Human Rights 16/04/08
      35.   Please no more "victorys", Nasrallah 15:31  |  Sam 16/04/08
      36.   #10 SJ so true at least Haniyeh has updated 15:31  |  Aphemia 16/04/08
      37.   #16 - "2 state solution with unlimited right of return 15:32  |  Diane Mason 16/04/08
      38.   Viper, the truth? 15:37  |  Sam 16/04/08
      39.   Viper, facts wrong again #24 15:47  |  SamC 16/04/08
      40.   Mason-to be agreed upon in accordance with UN Resolution 194 15:52  |  Sam 16/04/08
      41.   Only counting the huge ones: Nassrallah`s newest mistake! 16:00  |  A Life 16/04/08
      42.   The muslim on the street? Pathetic! 16:02  |  Hymie Zoltsveis 16/04/08
      43.   @Dana Wanderer: "simply because 2 IDF soldiers were kidnapped" 16:04  |  Human Rights Group 16/04/08
      44.   Nasrallah the superstar 16:10  |  Sarah 16/04/08
      45.   #16 lakshmi 16:12  |  Sarah 16/04/08
      46.   TRUTH 16:12  |  najoure 16/04/08
      47.   Thug war rules of the muslime 16:13  |  Steve stein 16/04/08
      48.   Good grief Durson, go back to propaganda school 16:26  |  Joe Sittizen 16/04/08
      49.   Well Hurry Up Mr. Carter 16:38  |  Proud Israeli 16/04/08
      50.   stupidity is the winner 16:40  |  dav 16/04/08
      51.   To najoure 16:45  |  Oleg 16/04/08
      52.   #48 16:57  |  George Clooney 16/04/08
      53.   Nas-Rotten 17:01  |  Rav Harley 16/04/08
      54.   Joe Sittizen - Thick as a brick 17:05  |  Natallie Durson 16/04/08
      55.   #7 Dana Wanderer 17:06  |  Sarah 16/04/08
      56.   lakshmi # 16 violates Haaretz guidelines Nº 3. 17:06  |  Fortuna Benmayor 16/04/08
      57.   The rambo and the admirer # 5 17:26  |  Stephen 16/04/08
      58.   To the people of israel 17:28  |  Imad 16/04/08
      59.   #16, Lakshmi...you are so smart! 17:34  |  DR 16/04/08
      60.   #1 Viper a credit to something I dunno what though 17:42  |  Robert/Montreal 16/04/08
      61.   I wonder how the families of the 1200 Lebanese dead voted? 17:48  |  Conroy 16/04/08
      62.   Viper Continued 17:49  |  Robert/Montreal 16/04/08
      63.   Here`s some meat for Durson`s thick facts 17:58  |  Joe Sittizen 16/04/08
      64.   74% of Arabs don`t support him 17:59  |  Analyst 16/04/08
      65.   #53 Natallie Durson, thicker than mud 18:07  |  Conroy 16/04/08
      66.   # 64 Conroy right on perfect 18:32  |  Robert/Montreal 16/04/08
      67.   Joe Sittizen - playing the fool 18:34  |  Natallie Durson 16/04/08
      68.   Conroy 18:38  |  Natallie Durson 16/04/08
      69.   Robert/Montreal 18:45  |  Natallie Durson 16/04/08
      70.   He is admired because he represents his people. 18:53  |  Jack 16/04/08
      71.   Nonsense Durson? Really? 19:01  |  Conroy 16/04/08
      72.