Friday, March 19, 2010

Ma'agar Mohot poll: 63% say U.S. administration's reaction harmed peace process; 75% Obama's reaction 'out of proportion'

(Via IMRA, JPost).A Ma'agar Mohot poll of 511 respondents, representing a statistical sample of the population, found that 75 percent of Israelis who expressed an opinion believed the Obama administration had overreacted, while 25% said it had not blown the issue out of proportion.

The poll, which has a margin of error of 4.5%, was sponsored by Dr. Aaron Lerner's Independent Media Review Analysis organization.

A separate poll of 483 Israelis taken by Shvakim Panorama for Israel Radio found that 74% of Israelis believed the Obama administration had exaggerated in its response, while 17% believed its behavior was justified. The rest did not know or did not express an opinion. That poll also had a 4.5% margin of error.

The Ma'agar Mohot poll also asked whether the American administration's criticism of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's government helped or harmed the peace process. Among those who gave an opinion, 63% said it harmed the peace process, 31% said it would have no impact, and just six percent said it would help.

When asked whether they were satisfied with the Obama administration's efforts to prevent Iran's nuclearization, 67% of respondents said yes, 9% said no, and 24% said it was so-so. Only 1% of Israelis described themselves as "very satisfied" with Obama's handling of the Iranian situation.

Other results from the same Ma'agar Mohot poll:
Do you support Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's decision to continue
construction in Jerusalem ?
Yes, 62% No 26%

Do you think that Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision will lead to more or
less pressure from the United States ?
More 61%, less 9%, same 21%

Do you think that President Obama is:
pro-Arab 42%, pro-Israel 9% or neutral 34%

Some claim that if Israel were to withdraw to the '67 lines - including
leave the Golan - it would enjoy peace for generations since the Arabs would
no longer have any claims against Israel. Do you think that this is a naive
or simplistic view or a reasonable and correct assessment?
Naive and simplistic 82% Reasonable and correct 8%

Does the decision of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to continue
construction in Jerusalem prove that he has a backbone?
Yes 55%, No 22% ]