- (AP) -- Almost half the American people believe Israel
is a threat to world peace, according to a poll presented Wednesday by
a Jewish group, but many more are concerned about North Korea, Iraq and
Iran.
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- The Anti-Defamation League said its survey showed much
less concern about Israel among Americans than a recent poll in Europe,
where Israel was at the top of the list of countries perceived as threatening
world peace.
-
- The ADL poll showed that 43 percent of Americans believe
Israel is a threat to world peace, placing it behind seven other countries.
In last month's Eurobarometer poll, 59 percent of Europeans chose Israel,
ranking it number one.
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- North Korea ranked first in the U.S. poll at 77 percent,
with Iraq and Iran tied for second at 76 percent. About 37 percent of Americans
said the United States itself was the greatest threat.
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- A Boston-based research firm interviewed 1,200 American
adults by phone earlier this month for the ADL. The survey's margin of
error was 4 percentage points. The poll was presented during a national
security conference in Herzliya attended by Israeli leaders and world figures.
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- "These attitudes may strengthen America's position"
in favor of Israel, said Abraham Foxman, the ADL's director.
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- The poll showed about 40 percent of Americans primarily
sympathize with Israel in the Mideast conflict, compared to just 15 percent
that sympathize with Palestinians, numbers Foxman said have remained consistent
since 1991.
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- About 73 percent said the United States was more likely
to be attacked by terrorists because of its support of Israel, but 62 percent
who gave that answer said the support should continue anyway.
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- The poll did not gauge opinion on controversial areas
of policy, like settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip or construction
of a security fence in the West Bank, both of which have come under sharp
criticism from Palestinians and foreign governments.
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