A new BBC poll conducted in selected countries around the world shows that a sizable plurality, 45% of Americans in favor of recognition for a Palestinian State, while 36% oppose it.
Public Narrowly Backs UN Recognition of Palestine: Global Poll
Support for recognition is strongest in Egypt, where 90 per cent are in favour and only nine per cent opposed. But there is also majority support in the other three predominantly Muslim countries polled – Turkey (60% support, 19% oppose), Pakistan (52% support, 12% oppose) and Indonesia (51% support,16% oppose). Chinese people are the second most likely overall to favour their government voting for recognition of a Palestinian state, with 56 per cent in support, and just nine per cent opposed.
In terms of countries with a higher level of opposition, Americans (45% support, 36% oppose) and Indians (32% support, 25% opposed, with many undecided) are the most likely to prefer that their government vote against recognizing Palestine, along with Filipinos (56% support vs 36% oppose) and Brazilians (41% support vs 26% oppose).
The results are drawn from a survey of 20,466 adult citizens across 19 countries. It was conducted for BBC World Service by the international polling firm GlobeScan. GlobeScan coordinated fieldwork between July 3, 2011 and August 29, 2011. Within-country results are considered accurate within +/- 2.1 to 3.5 per cent 19 times out of 20.
Public opinion in the three EU Member States included in the poll is strikingly similar on this issue: France (54% support vs 20% oppose), Germany (53% vs 28%) and the UK (53% vs 26%).
I'm not going to rehash the issues at stake here. For those who want more background information I'll include some links to some previous posts below.
I really hope (but don't expect) that having a poll show sizable plurality of Americans
will cause the President to reconsider his intention to veto the Palestinian application for Statehood in the Security Council. After decades of the U.S. helping to arm and finance and provide diplomatic cover for Israel's occupation the moment of truth has arrived for the United States. Will Obama act like a true World Leader and and do the morally right thing, or will he continue to to provide provide diplomatic cover for to an ungrateful ally to prevent displeasing a significant source of funding for his upcoming campaign? Will Obama give us what John F. Kennedy called a profile of courage? I can only hope so.
LINKS
Ramara's Views from the Zionist Left
The Troubadour's A Bold Rejection of America's Failed Diplomacy Sends Obama Administration Scrambling
Seneca Doane's What if Obama allowed Palestinian statehood to be recognized this week?
My Israel's Netanyahu to offer Palestinians upgraded status in speech to U.N. next week but no State
The Troubadour's The Train Wreck is Coming: Two of Obama's Major Foreign Policy Goals Are About to Collide
My Israel's Netanyahu to offer Palestinians upgraded status in speech to U.N. next week but no State