David Lev
A7 News
A poll released last week shows that President Barack Obama's administration has improved the perception of the United States in countries all over the world -- except in Israel. Respondents to a major poll taken by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center showed that America's image has improved, sometimes dramatically, in 25 countries around the world. In Western Europe, for example, where the countries polled were England, France, Germany and Spain, an average of 85.5 percent of respondents said that Obama would "do the right thing in world affairs," compared to an average of only 15 percent in the same countries that said this about former President George W. Bush in 2008.
Similar improvements to America's image were evident in the poll numbers in South America, Asia, and Africa. In China, Obama's 2009 rating approval was at 62 percent -- more than twice Bush's 2008 score. In Brazil the U.S. President had 76 percent approval, compared to 17 percent for his predecessor. In Kenya his approval percentage was 94 -- up from Bush's 72 in 2007.
In Muslim countries, too, Obama has improved America's image, although the majority in those countries still does not trust the U.S.
In Jordan, 30 percent of the populace said they believed Obama was on their side, while only 8 said the same thing about Bush in 2008. Thirty one percent in Jordan believe in Obama's foreign policy, up from 7 percent who believed in Bush's.
For the first time since the question was asked in the polls, Jordanians are more confident in an American president than in Osama Bin Laden – whom
In Israel, however, the U.S. is seen as less trustworthy – and the poll pinpointed Obama's Cairo speech in June as the turning point.
only 28 percent are confident is fighting for their interests. Obama is also more popular than Bin Laden in a number of other Muslim nations, including Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Nigeria and Indonesia. In Egypt, 42 percent believe in Obama's foreign policy efforts – far more than the 11 percent who said they believed in Bush's last year.
Downward turn in Israel
In Israel, however, the U.S. is seen as less trustworthy – and the poll pinpointed Obama's Cairo speech in June as the turning point. Before the poll, 76 percent of Israelis viewed the U.S. favorably, while after it, only 63 percent held that view. In addition, 60 percent of Israelis said they were confident in Obama's ability to lead before the speech – but afterwards, only 49 percent held that view. Still, 56 percent of Israelis agreed with the statement "Obama will do the right thing in world affairs" -- only 1 percent less than said the same thing about Bush last year.
Before the speech, 57 percent of Israelis also said they expected Obama would treat both sides fairly in the Middle East Conflict, a figure that sank by 10 percent after the speech.
Despite all this, the U.S. -- and Obama – remained far more popular in Israel than among Palestinian Authority Arabs. America's image – and Obama's – did get a boost in the PA after the speech, however. Thirty nine percent in the PA said they were confident the American president would look after their interests, rising from 27 percent who held that opinion before the speech. Thirty one percent of PA Arabs believe Obama will be fair in the Middle East conflict, whereas only 25 percent believed that before the speech.
The PA distinguished itself as one of two countries that believed more in Bin Laden than in the president: 52 percent have confidence in the Al Qaida head as a leader, while only 22 percent said the same about Obama. The only other country where the terrorist leader beat out the U.S. president was Pakistan, where 18 percent like Bin Laden as leader and 13 percent prefer Obama, the poll said.
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