Poll: Lack of Internal Reforms – Not External Interference – Biggest Obstacle to Mideast Peace

by Jim Lobe The failure by regional governments to implement political and economic reforms is seen by most publics in predominantly Muslim Middle Eastern countries as a greater obstacle to peace and stability than foreign interference, whether from the U.S.… Continue Reading

ISIS Eclipses Iran as Threat Among US Public

by Jim Lobe Shibley Telhami, the Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland, has just released a major new poll of US public opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which Mitchell Plitnick will analyze on this… Continue Reading

Public Offers Support for Obama’s Iraq Intervention

by Jim Lobe Despite rising criticism of his foreign policy — even from his former secretary of state — President Barack Obama’s decision last week to carry out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northern Iraq enjoys relatively strong public… Continue Reading

Poll: More Israelis oppose military attack on Iran, view Obama favorably

The number of Israelis who oppose a military attack against Iran has risen modestly since last year, according to the Anwar Sadat Chair’s annual survey of Israeli public opinion released today at the Brookings Institution. While 51-percent of Israeli respondents said they… Continue Reading

Bolder Obama on Middle East, Climate in Second Term?

via IPS News With President Barack Obama winning re-election, foreign policy analysts here are pondering whether his victory will translate into major changes from the rather cautious approach he followed overseas in his first term. For now, speculation is focused… Continue Reading