UAE | General
Bush most disliked global leader in Arab world, says survey
A new poll on Thursday underscored deep Arab unhappiness with the United States but said the negative image could be repaired if Washington brokered a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace agreement.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:00 February 10, 2007
Washington: A new poll on Thursday underscored deep Arab unhappiness with the United States but said the negative image could be repaired if Washington brokered a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace agreement.
The survey of 3,850 people in six Arab countries rated President George W. Bush as the most disliked world leader, while the United States and Israel were viewed as significantly greater threats than Iran.
Sixty-seven per cent of the respondents said the United States could improve its image by brokering a comprehensive Middle East peace agreement.
A smaller number - 33 per cent - said this image change could happen if Washington withdrew its troops from Iraq.
The results show the Arab-Israeli conflict "remains the central prism through which people are evaluating the United States", even when the international focus is on the Iraq war and nuclear crisis with Iran, said Shibley Telhami of the Saban Centre for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.
Nasrallah popular
Major powers recently backed a US push to revive Israeli-Palestinian talks, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice planning to travel to the region next week.
Based on face-to-face interviews conducted for the Saban Centre by the Zogby International polling firm last November and December, attitudes were surveyed in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and the UAE. Respondents were asked to identify which world leader outside of their own country they disliked most. Bush was named by 38 per cent, former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon by 11 per cent, current Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert by 7 per cent and British Prime Minister Tony Blair by 3 per cent.
The most admired leader was Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah with 14 per cent.
Share this article
More from UAE General
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Student tackles used cooking oil
- Road accidents the leading cause of brain injuries in Dubai
- No one wants to teach
- Notary phone bookings to start next month
- Move abandoned vehicles out of the way
- Fishmongers, consumers trade charges
- DIFF function to raise funds for Aids charity
- Seven held trying to fly from Abu Dhabi illegally
- Trucks queue eases at Saudi border
- Haj mission's H1N1 measures lauded
- Employer prosecuted for false accusation
- Number of Saudi students rises
- Petrol fumes at gas stations are threat to health
- 15 genetic triggers linked to birth defects in UAE
- English to stay as medium of instruction
Community Reports
-
Keeping out curious cats in Abu Dhabi
Felines trapped in electrical substations create a nuisance
-
Construction site turned into dump
Sharjah residents using abandoned spot to dispose of waste
-
Stop disregarding road rules
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to curb reckless driving during rush hours in Mussafah industrial area underpass
-
Public transport is the way to go
Residents must stop complaining about feeder buses taking up parking space
