Israeli Left expresses dismay over Obama's low popularity

Jerusalem, Aug. 30 (ANI): The Israeli Left has expressed disappointment over a recent Jerusalem Post poll which found that only four percent of Jewish Israelis believe that US President Barack Obama's policies are more pro-Israel than pro-Palestinian.

The Jerusalem Post-sponsored Smith Research poll published on Friday reported that 51 percent of Jewish Israelis considered Obama's administration more pro-Palestinian than pro-Israel, while 35 percent called it neutral.

Meretz and Peace Now said the survey indicated that Israelis did not yet realize the potential benefits of the regional peace initiative that Obama was advocating.

"It is a pity that most Israelis don't realize that. Israelis think that Christian evangelists who rubber-stamp everything Israel does are the only Americans who are pro-Israel. But what is really good for Israel is a solution to the conflict, and Obama is doing what it takes to bring it about," the paper quoted Meretz faction chairman MK Ilan Gilon, as saying

Peace Now secretary-general Yariv Oppenheimer said what mattered more at this stage of the peace process was Obama's reputation in the Arab world, and not in Israel.

"Despite the results of the poll, the Israeli interest is that Obama will be popular in the Arab world, so he could bring about a peace agreement with Israel," Oppenheimer said.

However, the Right questioned how 4 percent of the Jewish Israeli population could still consider Obama more pro-Israel than pro-Palestinian.

"Four percent of the public evidently didn't understand the question. If they did, 99.9 percent would say that he is extremely anti-Israel. The only Israelis who would say he is pro-Israel are those who join Fatah and call for anti-Israel boycotts," said National Union MK Arye Eldad. (ANI)