Can President Obama Persuade Israel That the Time for Peace Is Now? Poll Says Israel Is in No Rush!

The New America Foundation has released a poll showing that President Obma has a higher favorability rating among Israelis than the public perceives.41 percent of Israelis have a favorable opinion of Obama vs 37 percent unfavorable, with a magin for error of 3 points.

Despite this, 55 percent of Israelis polled said they thought Obama did not support Israel against 42 percent who said he did — a reflection of the “complexity of views” about the U.S. leader as he presses both Israel and the Palestinians to resume stalled peace talks. via Reuters

Despite this fact, pollster Jim Gerstein says that Israelis have a positive view of President Obama’s ability to broker a peace deal with the Palestinians, although they’re not in any rush.

Gerstein says that President Obama has the opportunity to make that case directly to the Israeli people. 

Note from Anne: I rarely comment directly about politics unless connected to women’s rights, but the world had best start a no nonsense campaign explaining to Israel that the time for peace is now.

The tribal-like mentalities in this part of the world just defy my logic about the human condition. Permanent warlord warfare seems to be part of the psychological DNA of the region, whether they’re settlers in Israel or members of the Taliban. They all look back before the Middle Ages, not forward into the 21st century.

That poll comment is the most depressing one I’ve read in years. The Israelis are in no rush to make peace! God help us all. Anne

More reading: Israeli settlers threaten to make Palestinians ‘pay the price’ on the West Bank Telegraph UK