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Last update - 15:30 07/07/2008 71% of Americans say U.S. gov't shouldn't take sides in Mideast conflict By Bradley Burston, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Palestinians, poll, Israel  A public opinion poll released by a research institute at the University of Maryland shows that 71 percent of Americans believe that the United States government should not take sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The survey, which measured attitudes of nearly 19,000 respondents in countries around the world, found that in 14 of the 18 nations studied, a large majority favored an even-handed approach to the conflict. Only in three countries, Egypt, Iran and Turkey, did the weight of responses favor taking the side of the Palestinians, with 86 percent of Egyptian and 63 percent of the Iranian respondents taking that position. In Turkey, 42 percent said their government should take the Palestinians' side, versus 38 percent who said that Turkey should be even-handed, and only 4 percent who said it should take Israel's side. Advertisement In none of the countries did a majority support taking Israel's side. Of American respondents, 21 percent said the United States should take Israel's side, and only 3 percent, the Palestinians. Asked if in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, their country "should take Israel's side, take the Palestinians' side, or not take either side," public opinion in India was nearly equally divided, with 24 percent answering that India should take Israel's side, 23 percent, the Palestinians', and 22 percent, neither side. In 15 of the counties, the WorldPublicOpinion.org poll also asked respondents to rate how well Israel, the Palestinians, and the United States were doing their part in trying to resolve the conflict. All three parties fared poorly in the poll, but Israel received the worst ratings. In 13 of the 15 nations, most respondents said Israel was doing its peacemaking "not very well" or "not well at all," including 59 percent of the Americans polled. Thirty percent of Americans had a favorable view of Israel's peacemaking efforts. India and China were the sole exceptions, with 35 percent of Indians saying that Israel was doing its part, versus 25 percent who said that it was not. Opinion was narrowly split among Chinese, with 41 percent voicing a favorable rating to 39 percent unfavorable. Palestinians in the territories were also polled on this question, with 61 percent percent replying that Israel was not doing its part at all well, and another 20 percent answering "not very well. A total of 13 percent said that it was doing its part well, of which 4 percent said very well. The poll was not conducted in Israel. The survey showed poor marks for the efforts of Palestinians and Americans as well, with respondents in 10 of the 15 countries rating the Palestinians as not doing their part, and those in 12 out of 15 nations saying the United States was failing to do its part. Americans were divided over their own role. A total of 44 percent said the United States was doing its part, against 46 percent who said it was not. By a 59-30 percent margin, Americans said Israel was not doing its part. Americans' view of the Palestinians' performance was even more negative, with 75 percent saying the Palestinians were failing to do their part, versus 15 percent who voiced a positive rating. The highest negative percentage ratings of U.S. peacemaking efforts were registered in Egypt [86 percent], Mexico [77 percent], the Palestinian territories [77 percent], France [71 percent], South Korea [70 percent], China [69 percent], and Turkey [64 percent] . The U.S. fared best among Nigerians, 53 percent of whom said that the United States was doing its part at least somewhat well. Indians were divided [33 percent well, against 34 percent not well), as were Thais (27 versus 26 percent]. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Desert pursuit IDF criticizes Egyptian soldiers over fatal cross-border manhunt. Backing McCain The more religious the voter the more likely he is to support McCain over Obama.   1.   Bad result for Israel 13:28  |  Natallie Durson 07/07/08   2.   not surprising 13:48  |  Sarah 07/07/08   3.   America Has Not Been A Good Friend 14:11  |  MB 07/07/08   4.   knee jerk from Durson + information missing 14:43  |  Jul 07/07/08   5.   #1 Natalie, sory to dissapoint you. 14:53  |  John Allen 07/07/08   6.   Even-handedness=Fairness 15:34  |  Palistinian 07/07/08   7.   expected results, whats the point? 15:44  |  thepoint 07/07/08   8.   can`t shove `israel support` down americans throats forever! 16:14  |  bashar 07/07/08   9.   The Middle East the "center of anti-Americanism and hatred." 16:22  |  Jean Van Daem 07/07/08   10.   The war declared on Israel is a war declared against the West. 16:24  |  Jean Van Daem 07/07/08   11.   Neocons 16:36  |  Jose 07/07/08   12.   #3 MB Tell that to the LOBBY 16:46  |  jc 07/07/08   13.   Our efforts are slowly having an effect. 16:49  |  Ibrahim 07/07/08   14.   Poor Natallie, those are similar numbers re: fighting Nazis 16:54  |  Jon 07/07/08   15.   Poll detail - Israel 16:55  |  TimothyL 07/07/08   16.   And is Obama to right or left of 71%...? 17:21  |  Esther 07/07/08   17.   Sharon knew that when he initiated the disengagement... 17:24  |  Esther 07/07/08   18.   #1 & #2, Sarah & Natallie... 18:28  |  Silvienne 07/07/08   19.   #1 Sanctions? THAT is "even-handed"??? 18:43  |  DesMnsDave 07/07/08   20.   #3, In that case, MB from Tel Aviv... 18:51  |  Silvienne 07/07/08   21.   Another Poll 19:03  |  Matt 07/07/08   22.   If Only America was Even-Handed 19:04  |  ID 07/07/08   23.   The writing on the wall 19:08  |  Michael N 07/07/08   24.   #1 Natalie Durson 19:13  |  H 07/07/08   25.   The point is... even-handedness is not a mystery 19:18  |  Michael N 07/07/08   26.   Reply to #5 John Allen, Kansas 19:23  |  Charles 07/07/08   27.   Never give away land 19:54  |  Joe Peet 07/07/08   28.   Americans and Mideast poll 19:56  |  Connie 07/07/08   29.   Hopeful 20:03  |  Colin Wright 07/07/08   30.   Americans Want the US to Be Fair, Which, Favors Israel (& Pal`s) 20:10  |  JP 07/07/08   31.   Support is wide and thin 20:19  |  Realist 07/07/08   32.   #19 - Some Talkbackers Bias Against Israel is Based on Ignorance 20:30  |  JP 07/07/08   33.   America Wake Up & Take Sides 20:44  |  david rapp 07/07/08   34.   Realist;65% of the American public support Israel. 20:55  |  Jack be quick 07/07/08   35.   to michael n 20:56  |  thepoint 07/07/08   36.   No 4 Jul 20:57  |  steve 07/07/08   37.   Unfortunately 100% Of AIPAC Says That the US Should Support 21:14  |  chet 07/07/08   38.   Oh Really, Chet? How does that work? 21:46  |  JP 07/07/08   39.   Lies, damn lies and polling 22:11  |  Aphemia 07/07/08   40.   jon 11 22:29  |  potobac 07/07/08   41.   connie 25 22:37  |  potobac 07/07/08   42.   AIPAC influence? #34 23:14  |  denver steve 07/07/08   43.   Denver steve, tell God to give me a call, 02:27  |  American in NY 08/07/08   44.   Connie..in that case... 05:57  |  Silvienne 08/07/08   45.   #43, American in NY to Denver Steve... 05:59  |  Silvienne 08/07/08   46.   MB # 3 I couldn`t agree with you more 15:25  |  American in NY 08/07/08   47.   JOn # 14 what nazis? 03:39  |  American in NY 09/07/08   48.   Jack br Quick # 34 AIPAC supports Israel,. Avg american do not 03:42  |  American in NY 09/07/08   49.   Steve, I may be reading too much but... 15:28  |  Jul 09/07/08   50.   Steve, I may be reading too much but... 15:35  |  Jul 09/07/08

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