Most people around the world oppose taking sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while none of the leaders on the world stage enjoys wide confidence. These were the conclusions of two international polls that were released recently. The results made common men to stop and ponder. Both surveys were conducted by the World Public Opinion.Org, a collaborative research project involving research centres across the world.
The first poll of 18 countries found that in 14 of them, people say their government should not take sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The countries surveyed represent 59 per cent of world population, and included some of the largest countries, such as China, India, Indonesia, US and Nigeria. Only Egypt, Iran and Turkey favoured taking the sides of the Palestinians, whereas India was divided. But no country favours taking the Israeli side, including the US, where 71 per cent of the surveyed favour staying neutral.
The second poll covered 20 countries, comprising 60 per cent of the world's population. It found that none of the national leaders on the world stage "inspire wide confidence". Among the countries surveyed were Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Iran and Turkey.
US President George W. Bush is the least trusted leader followed by Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf. The list of leaders included British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former Russian President and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. It also included China's President Hu Jintao, France's President Nicholas Sarkozy and Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Interestingly, only the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon received largely positive ratings, when people were asked whether they trusted his ability "in doing the right thing regarding world affairs".
The trusted world leaders in the four regional Middle Eastern countries which figured in the survey were Ahmadinejad in Jordan and Palestine, and Hu Jintao in Iran and Egypt. As for the most trusted regional leader, it was Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia in Jordan, and Hezbollah leader Shaikh Hassan Nasserallah in Palestine and Iran.
The leadership survey shows simply that people around the world have real support for strongmen, either in peace or war, and that people don't support leaders of "free and democratic" countries.
"The West clearly isn't winning the battle for influence - and freedom - to borrow Bush's phrase, is not reigning," wrote Johathan Tepperman in Newsweek magazine recently.
Meanwhile, the Palestinians gained, as shown by the results of the second poll. That is when no people favour siding with the Israelis. On average, 58 per cent say their country shouldn't take sides, 20 per cent favour siding with the Palestinians compared with 7 per cent who favour siding with the Israelis.
Foregone conclusion
To Arabs and Muslims, this seems a foregone conclusion. All the peoples of these countries fully realise that the Palestinian question is a just cause, and the Palestinian people are the ones who are suffering.
They are the ones who were forced out of their homes and lands to live in refugee camps and in Diaspora, while Israel raised the slogan that Palestine is a land without people for people without a land. However, to the public of other countries, the feelings are not the same. Therefore, for people in these countries to oppose the idea of favouring Israel in the conflict is a gain to the Palestinians, despite the reality that Israel and the Jewish lobby have a leverage on some big media organisations, decision making bodies, and think-tank circles in the West.
The results also show that people around the world are not ignorant. They see how the Israeli measures are making the lives of the Palestinian more difficult. They are aware of this because of several factors, including visiting Western peace activists to the Palestinian Occupied Territories who highlight the suffering of the the Palestinians to the whole world. They also side with the Palestinians in protesting against Israeli atrocities and help them to overcome their daily hardships.
Israel seems to start losing some of its supporters in the world because of its policies against the Palestinians. And the Israeli authorities know this.
The survey also concluded that the Americans themselves are divided on evaluating their country's role in solving the conflict.
Only 44 per cent say the US is doing its part well, 46 per cent say it is not, and the rest says, not at all.
Meanwhile, it is just unfortunate that the Palestinians are not trying to take advantage of the world's public support when they are in dire need.
If the ongoing street fighting between Fatah and Hamas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is achieving anything, it is lessening the justice of the Palestinians' cause at the international arena. It hurts the image of the Palestinians. They need to be the first to correct the situation.
Arabs can lend a helping hand. Lobbies can be formed to increase the international support to Palestinians. This requires determination, time, money and serious hard work. Above all, staying away from internal strife.
