Poll: Jordan top anti-Jew nation; Russia most pro-Christian
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, September 19, 2005
Jordan leads the Islamic world in its antipathy for Jews according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center.
The poll, which surveyed 17,000 people in 17 countries, said 100 percent of Jordanians viewed Jews unfavorably. The majority of Jordanians are Palestinians, but the late King Hussein and his son and successor, King Abdullah have been known for their pro-American stances.
Russia led all other countries with favorable views of Christians (92 percent) while Turkey (63 percent) had the most unfavorable view of Christians.
The Netherlands led all nations surveyed both in positive views of Jews (85 percent) and negative views of Muslims (51 percent).
Significant numbers of respondents in only Jordan (38 percent) and Lebanon (40 percent) blamed U.S. policies for Islamic extremism.
Respondents in Lebanon, which has a large Christian population, were nearly unanimous (99 percent) in their unfavorable views of Jews. 91 percent were favorable to Christians.
The poll found decreasing support in Islamic countries for Al Qaida and suicide bombings.
Jordan was the exception. In the latest poll, the level of Jordanian support for Bin Laden rose to 60 percent, compared to 55 percent in 2002.
The center also reported increased Jordanian support for suicide attacks.
Fifty-seven percent of Jordanian respondents expressed support for suicide bombings, up from 43 percent in 2002.
In Morocco, support for Al Qaida dropped from 49 percent in 2003 to 26 percent in the latest poll. In Lebanon, only two percent of respondents expressed support for Al Qaida.
