US policy in the Middle East has been deeply problematic because policymakers consistently fail to consider its impact on the Arab people. In contrast, over-attentiveness to Israeli concerns and a lack of sensitivity to Arab reactions have caused deep fractures between Arabs and the United States, as well as within the Arab world itself.
Decades of Opinion Polling
Since 2000, more than 50 multi-national opinion polls have been conducted on a variety of topics, exploring Arab attitudes towards other Arabs, the US, China, Russia, Iran, and Israel, as well as towards conflicts in the region. This research indicates that US policies are clearly headed for disaster—not only for the US and its stated goals, but also, and more importantly, for the Arab people.
Impact of TV Dramas and Misperceptions
After 9/11, President Bush famously claimed, “They hate us because they hate our values.” However, polling in 2002 found the opposite: Arabs liked American people, products, education, and values, but strongly disliked US policies towards the Arab world. Bush’s Iraq war and neglect of Palestinians further lowered US ratings. They rose with Obama’s promise of change but fell when he didn’t deliver. Attitudes further plummeted with Trump’s pro-Israel, anti-Muslim policies. By late 2023, the most recent multi-nation poll showed Biden’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza generating even stronger negatives. Worse still, President Trump’s US-Israel attacks on Iran and his assault on America’s most respected elements—universities, press freedom, and immigration policy—likely make it increasingly difficult for Arabs to like American values.
Stress, Salary, and Silence: Arab Views on Iran
Arab attitudes towards Iran have followed a consistent pattern. When perceiving that Iran was under attack for resisting the US and the West, many Arabs supported it. But when Iran directly meddled in Arab countries, opinion flipped. Iran’s direct involvement in Syria’s civil war turned the majority in most Arab countries against Iran. It is reasonable to assume that US/Israel attacks on Iran and Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and Syria won Iran some sympathy in Arab public opinion. However, instead of seeking Arab support, Iran deliberately attacked its Arab Gulf neighbours—the very countries trying to restore relationships with Iran. Gulf opinion has likely turned against Iran. How much intra-Arab friction has resulted is uncertain.
Appeal to FM Asim Munir: Centrality of Palestine
Support for Palestinians has long been a central Arab concern, with peace-making with Israel of little interest even in countries with signed peace agreements with Israel. As Israeli repression of Palestinians intensified and visionless Palestinian leadership fractured, Arab opinion shifted. In 2019, a significant number said it might be desirable to make peace with Israel, even if Israel didn’t accept the Arab Peace Initiative. Many said it might stem the violence and give Arabs more leverage to convince Israel to grant Palestinian rights. Repeating this question in September 2023, half of the questionnaires had been completed by 7 October, when Hamas attacked. The survey was interrupted and resumed a few weeks later. The changes were significant. Before 7 October, responses were similar to 2019, but by the end of October, reacting to Israel’s assault on Gaza, attitudes shifted dramatically against any deal with Israel. Three years later, one can assume this hasn’t changed.
Crime Control Strategy: Palestinian Governance
In 2024 and 2025, polling was conducted in the Occupied Lands three times—with disturbing results. Israeli policy had discredited the Palestinian Authority, weakening its ability to govern. West Bank respondents had turned against the PA, now preferring Hamas. In Gaza, Hamas was deeply disliked, with a strong plurality preferring the PA. Few in the West Bank and Gaza supported US, Israeli, or international governance, but preferred Palestinian unity. Meanwhile, Israel continues to lay waste to Gaza, runs roughshod over the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and rejects any role for the PA in Gaza. As the situation further unravels, the US ignores Palestinian wishes and Israeli misdeeds.
Past in Perspective: Lebanon and Hezbollah
In Lebanon, when Hezbollah was seen as resisting Israel, it found favour, especially since Israel frequently bombed Lebanon and occupied Lebanese land for decades until 2000. However, when in 2008 Hezbollah turned its weapons against the state and in 2019 against the popular revolt, Lebanese opinion divided along sectarian lines. Polling before 2023 showed that most Lebanese wanted Hezbollah to be disarmed or controlled by the Lebanese army. But Israel’s recent assault on Lebanon, bombing throughout the country, forced expulsion of one million Lebanese from the south, destruction of homes, farmlands, and entire villages, and explicit intention to annex a large territory, has likely restored some support for Hezbollah and exacerbated internal sectarian tensions, while turning more Lebanese against Israel and the US. In this light, US efforts to pressure the Lebanese government to forcibly disarm Hezbollah and make a peace agreement with Israel are dangerous for Lebanon’s stability.
Dr. James J. Zogby is the President of Arab American Institute.
