By: Barak Cohen
In November 2003, the European Union released polling data indicating Europeans considered the State of Israel to be the largest threat to world peace. This time period, in the midst of the 2nd Intifada, posed a tremendous public relations challenge to Israel. Today, Israel continues its complex recuperation from both the societal battle wounds and the damaged international reputation spawned from this conflict.
In the first weeks of 2008, Israel received encouraging news about its rehabilitation process. One of the top political minds in the United States presented his largely positive prognosis to policy makers, journalists, and NGO’s across Israel. Dr. Stanley Greenberg, a highly sought after pollster and former advisor to U.S. President Bill Clinton along with top Republican pollster Neil Newhouse, conducted a survey of public opinion in the U.S., Britain, and France vis-à-vis Iran, Israel, and the Palestinians for the Israel Project, a non-profit devoted to impacting public opinion in order to help protect Israel. The joint findings, presented by Dr. Greenberg at an event jointly hosted by the Israel Project and the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), were both strategically interesting and heartening. The event was held on January 8th at the IDI in Jerusalem.
Following an introduction by IDI Senior Fellow and Scientific Director of the Guttman Center, Professor Asher Arian, Dr. Greenberg began his comments by presenting conclusive indicators that support for Israel in France and the United States is growing, although little change has been seen in the UK. As Israel makes strides again towards peace with the Palestinians and its leaders are cast in a more moderate light than their predecessors, Western nations appear to be responding positively.
When it comes to the Iranian nuclear proliferation, polling data indicates Israeli intelligence is seen as the most trustworthy source of information among Americans. With its history of dealing with hostile neighbors and a vested interest in keeping a country committed to ‘wiping Israel off the map’ from gaining the weaponry to do so, Israeli intelligence assessments are seen trustworthy whereas a majority of American voters are concerned that American leaders’ assessments on Iran are politically or ideologically motivated.
Last year, the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) found that Iran ended its nuclear weapons program in 2003. The NIE report seems poised to significantly alter the course of American policy towards Iran. According to Greenberg, however, the international community, as well as the American public, takes significant issue with these findings. Most of those polled in the three countries do not believe that Iran ended its nuclear weapons program in 2003. Of the minority who do believe Iran suspended it’s nuclear program, many feel that they will resume it.
According to Dr. Greenberg’s surveys, consensus exists that a nuclear Iran poses a major threat to global security and that current Iranian funding and support for militant Islamic organizations classifies them a danger to all three countries. Agreement also exists as to the appropriate response- the vast majority opposes a military confrontation in favor of direct negotiations and increased diplomatic pressure.
As far as Israel is concerned, Dr. Greenberg’s presentation clarified a number of important points. First, Israel has a legitimate voice and an internationally-respected position vis-à-vis Iranian nuclear aspiration. Second, the international community appreciates the willingness of Israel’s leaders to pursue the peace agenda while focusing on the security of their citizens. And finally, if Israel maintains its current course and strategy, it can anticipate the continued improvement of its image in the international eye.